It is the largest spherical structure in the world. It occupies seven hectares, has capacity for 18,000 spectators, has a 54,000 square meter LED screen and since its inauguration last September, it has revolutionized the entertainment industry. The Sphere, the new event and concert venue in Las Vegas, is a spectacle in itself. It is owned by James L. Dolan, owner of Madison Square Garden in New York, but its construction bears a Spanish seal thanks to a group of engineers and architects from Zaragoza. “It was a complex challenge because nothing like it had ever been done,” says Manuel Gimeno Asín, director of parametric engineering at SACO Technologies. The company based in the Aragonese capital is the same one that has been behind projects such as the Burj Khalifa building in Dubai. “We dedicate ourselves to making screens that no one else knows how to make,” explains Asín. There are plans to replicate the imposing Las Vegas sphere in London, but “the thorn in our side is always being able to do something like this in Spain.”
The company SACO Technologies is a specialist in manufacturing screens for concerts and shows. “We work with artists like Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones and U2.” The proposal to carry out the sphere megaproject in Las Vegas came to them approximately five years ago. “Specific computer tools had to be developed for this design.” The Sphere has the largest HD screens in the world. It has a resolution of 128K, 32 times higher than that broadcast by conventional televisions. Manuel Gimeno Asín points out that developing this technology on flat screens is relatively simple, but doing it on a completely curved structure represents a great challenge. “Transforming a pattern of LEDs that adapts to that surface is extremely complicated and there are many things that have to be taken into account; that it looks good, that it is useful and that it is easy to assemble, since it requires a lot of maintenance.”
The entertainment trend has shifted towards offering increasingly sensory experiences. “A few years ago the show was simply the musician on stage, now the events are increasingly multidisciplinary.” Those chosen to light up the Las Vegas sphere were the Irish U2 with a futuristic show designed specifically for the space. The madness that ignited the band’s presence at The Sphere caused the resale price of their tickets to exceed $6,000 dollars.
The budget to create the gigantic sphere amounted to more than 2,000 million euros. For a project of this magnitude to be carried out in Spain, numerous factors must align. “From economic aspects to urban considerations.” The regulations are stricter than in Las Vegas, “especially with regard to light pollution and other environmental aspects,” explains the head of SACO. According to NV Energy, the company that generates and distributes electricity in the state of Nevada, The Sphere needs 28 megawatts to operate at its maximum energy consumption. One megawatt can power about 750 homes at a time, meaning that the Las Vegas area, at its peak electricity consumption, consumes enough energy to power 21,000 homes.
The Sphere was the attraction that captured everyone’s attention this January at the last Consumer Electronics Show (CES), one of the most important computing events in the industry. The journalist specialized in technology, Mauro Albornoz, was present and was one of the guests at the private event that took place within the sphere. “This project marks a before and after in the entertainment industry,” explains Albornoz, “it is extremely impressive.” Upon entering the venue, guests were greeted by Ameca robots, humanoids operated with artificial intelligence, capable of maintaining realistic conversations with human beings. “They respond even in an ironic way.” The show continued with the screening of Postcards from the Earth, a film made especially by director Darren Aronofsky (The Whale and Black Swan). Partly documentary but with elements of science fiction, the film exploits the experiential capacity of The Sphere to make the audience feel like they are anywhere but Las Vegas. “It is an experience that is felt throughout the body; “The vibrations of sounds, aromas and even the wind achieve a hyper-realistic effect.” Currently you can access the show by purchasing tickets on the website. Prices range between $70 and $250 dollars.
The Sphere not only functions as a venue for screenings, concerts or sporting events. Since its inauguration it has become one of the most expensive and coveted advertising spaces in the world. “The sphere is one of the first things you can see from the plane when you land in Las Vegas and it is also one of the most photographed and disseminated structures on social networks,” explains Mauro Albornoz. Placing an ad costs $450,000 per day or $650,000 for five consecutive days. “Big technology companies like Samsung or Microsoft are betting on promoting themselves in that space,” but brands like Disney or Coca-Cola have also shown interest in appearing, even for a limited time, in The Sphere.
