LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The MSG Sphere has been ambitious from the start.
"We anticipate capturing all the different senses and we're going to do something that's never been done before," said Nick Tomasino, VP of Construction for Madison Square Garden Company.
When you're trying to do something that has never been done before, you have to start from the ground up.
Construction on the MSG Sphere, which is just east of The Venetian and Palazzo, began in September with demolition and site prep. Crews dug out around 110,000 cubic yards of dirt and caliche, creating a deep basement of about 80,000 square feet, 21 and a half feet below ground.
First and last day I will ever wear jeans during a Vegas summer. Construction workers on site of MSG Sphere say they average 10 bottles of water per day. ☀️ #msgsphere pic.twitter.com/Xctg4ysaEe
— Jackie Kostek (@JackieKostek) July 23, 2019
With that foundation set, the venue begins to take shape.
Once built, the MSG Sphere will have 875,000 square feet of interior space, about the equivalent of three Goodyear blimps.
The MSG Sphere is going to have quite an economic impact - creating 3,500 local jobs during construction and 4,400 annually once its complete @KTNV pic.twitter.com/yayYJafQjD
— Jackie Kostek (@JackieKostek) July 23, 2019
To put it into perspective, the Palazzo hotel-casino stands at 465 feet tall. When complete, the MSG Sphere will be 366 feet tall.
Inside the sphere will be no less impressive, with a massive LED screen, the size of three football fields, which will wrap almost entirely around guests.
"The LED screen immerses you from the front, the sides, and a bit back. You're fully immersed," said Tomasino.
Demolition and site prep began in September on the MSG Sphere and as you can see, they’ve dug quite a hole. The basement is around 80,000 square feet pic.twitter.com/9Uz62Khz7A
— Jackie Kostek (@JackieKostek) July 23, 2019
That immersive experience will include new sound technology.
"This new technology allows you to be able to have the same experience whether you're sitting in the back of the venue or the front of the venue," said Tomasino.
The venue is expected to host a variety of events including concerts, residencies, corporate events, some sports and more.
Ready to get hard-hatted up for a tour of MSG Sphere - a new 17,500 seat venue that will have the largest and highest resolution LED screen in the world. Should open in 2021 @KTNV pic.twitter.com/T9xIy0767c
— Jackie Kostek (@JackieKostek) July 23, 2019
So far, Tomasino said construction is on track and on time, with a completion date in 2021.
While under construction, the new venue is projected to create 3,500 local jobs. Once it's complete, that number should be well over 4,000 annual jobs.
Tomasino said the iconic sphere shape should begin taking shape in the next couple months.
