VIDEO. The Sphere: the incredible Las Vegas concert hall is also a huge energy sink

2023-10-03 22:00:50

First there is the decor, with this exterior view of a huge ball projecting spectacular images in the middle of Las Vegas. Inside, a dome covered with LED panels covering 15,000 m2 with this room with a bird’s eye view and breathtaking special effects. The Sphere, this futuristic 17,500-seat performance hall inaugurated on September 29 with the U2 concert in front of stunned spectators, offers an extraordinary experience. Never seen. But there is also the other side of the story… With its million LEDs, The Sphere is also a huge energy sink. With its 95,000 MWh consumed in one year, the Las Vegas ball devours the equivalent of what 20,000 French homes consume in electricity in a city like Valenciennes.

Highly criticized on social networks for its energy cost, The Sphere cost more than 2 billion euros and can accommodate 18,000 people. However, its designers say they want to provide 70% of the room’s electricity using solar power. A goal set over 25 years.