Unforgettable: U2 Rocked the Spectacular Las Vegas Sphere Venue Here’s Your Exclusive Inside Look!

After years of captivating the attention of visitors with its enigmatic presence on the horizon of this desert oasis, the spherical structure has now granted us access to its interior.

The highly anticipated Sphere, a groundbreaking entertainment venue with a value of $2.3 billion, made its grand entrance this weekend with two electrifying concerts headlined by U2.

Is Sphere truly living up to its immense expectations? Are the awe-inspiring interior visuals just as captivating as the mesmerizing exterior? And does U2, the beloved Irish band in the later years of their career, prove to be the perfect choice to inaugurate this colossal gem of an arena?

Yes, absolutely - with a few conditions.

Attempting to depict the Sphere concert experience poses a difficulty, as there is truly nothing comparable to it. The sensation is akin to being enveloped within a colossal planetarium or an intensified IMAX cinema, within the confines of a mammoth spacecraft.

Sphere, created by Madison Square Garden Entertainment, is hailed as the largest spherical structure globally. Standing at an impressive height of 366 feet and a width of 516 feet, this partially hollow arena offers ample space to comfortably accommodate the entire Statue of Liberty, from its base to the torch.

The grand theater, shaped like a spacious bowl, boasts a stage positioned at its lowest level. Surrounding the audience, you will find the world's largest and highest-resolution LED screen, which engulfs viewers in its captivating display. The screen curves both above and around the spectators, and depending on your seat's placement, it can completely occupy your entire field of vision.

People arrive for the opening night of U2'S "UV Achtung Baby" show on Friday at the new Sphere venue in Las Vegas.

John Locher/AP

In todays multimedia entertainment world, overused buzzwords like "immersive" get thrown around a lot. But Spheres vast screen and pristine sound truly earn that label.

After the show, I interviewed several audience members who enthusiastically praised the venue.

"Visually, it was an incredibly immersive experience… it was mind-blowing," expressed Dave Zittig, who traveled with his wife Tracy from Salt Lake City specifically for Saturday night's performance. "Moreover, they wisely chose the perfect band to kick off the event. We've attended concerts worldwide, and this venue stands out as the most impressive we've ever been to."

A spectacle, inside and out

The inaugural event at the venue is titled "U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere." It comprises a series of 25 concerts centered around the influential Irish band's iconic album "Achtung Baby" from 1991. These concerts will continue until mid-December. Despite the high ticket prices ranging from $400 to $500 for premium seats, the majority of the shows have already sold out.

The show debuted on Friday night, creating a frenzy of excitement and drawing notable celebrities such as Paul McCartney, Oprah, Snoop Dogg, Jeff Bezos, and many others. Some of them may have wondered about the possibilities of booking their own Sphere performances.

In the following week, audiences can anticipate the premiere of "Postcard From Earth," a film directed by Darren Aronofsky. This film guarantees to make the most of Sphere's expansive screen by providing viewers with an immersive tour of the planet. Additionally, more concerts are scheduled for 2024, although the participating artists have not yet been announced.

With an animated backdrop of endangered creatures, U2 perform "Beautiful Day" near the end of their show Friday at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Rich Fury/Handout/Reuters

Visitors have several options to reach Sphere, located just east of the Strip. They can either navigate through alleys and parking lots or take the convenient pedestrian walkway from the Venetian resort, which is a partner in the venture.

Within, visitors will be greeted by a lofty atrium adorned with intricate sculptural mobiles, accompanied by long escalators that ascend to the upper floors. However, the true highlight lies in the theater, featuring an encompassing LED canvas boasting an awe-inspiring 268 million video pixels. Such a staggering number is undeniably impressive.

The screen's grandeur is so commanding that it occasionally eclipses the live performers, leaving me uncertain of where to direct my gaze - towards the dynamic band performing before me, or the mesmerizing visuals that enveloped the surroundings.

The giant LED screen conjures both spectacle and intimacy

Depending on how close you wish to be to the artist, your preference for the ideal seat will vary. The 200 and 300 levels offer a view that is on par with the center of the gigantic screen, ensuring proximity. Meanwhile, seats in the lower level provide closer proximity to the stage, but may require you to strain your neck in order to look up. However, please be cautioned that certain seats in the back of the lower section may have partially obstructed views.

The legendary band - Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and guest drummer Bram van den Berg standing in for Larry Mullen Jr., who is recuperating from surgery - exhibited their usual passion, seamlessly transitioning from energetic rock anthems ("Even Better Than the Real Thing") to heartfelt ballads ("One") and more.

U2 continues to enjoy an immense and devoted fan base, crafting majestic compositions and consistently pushing the limits of technology, as exemplified by their groundbreaking Zoo TV tour. Therefore, they are an ideal match for an innovative venue like Sphere.

The band showcased their performance on a minimalistic stage resembling a revolving turntable. While the four musicians predominantly stayed rooted on the circular platter, Bono ventured around the periphery. Nearly every song was accompanied by captivating animations and live footage displayed on a colossal screen.

Bono wholeheartedly embraced the mesmerizing visuals of the Spheres, proclaiming, "This entire venue exudes a mind-bending effect, akin to a distortion pedal."

Enormous live images of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 are projected on the screen.

The wraparound screen created a sense of both grandeur and closeness, with Bono, The Edge, and other band members being projected onto the stage in video images that towered 80 feet high.

The spheres producers delivered on their promise of state-of-the-art sound with the integration of thousands of speakers throughout the venue. Attendees were pleasantly surprised by the clarity of Bonos words and the bands volume, which never felt overwhelming or underwhelming. "I typically wear earplugs at concerts, but they were unnecessary this time," said Rob Rich, who traveled from Chicago with a friend for the show. He further expressed, "The experience was so immersive. I've seen U2 perform eight times, and this is now the benchmark."

During the show, the band took a break from performing songs from "Achtung Baby" and instead treated the audience to an acoustic set of tracks from "Rattle and Hum." This change in musical direction brought about simpler visuals, allowing the focus to shift onto the stripped-down songs. Within this stripped-back atmosphere, some of the most memorable moments of the night were created, serving as a powerful reminder that while extravagant embellishments may be pleasing, exceptional live music stands on its own.

As for Saturday's performance, it was only the second public event for the band Sphere, and they are still addressing a few technical issues. The band started the show roughly thirty minutes late, with Bono attributing the delay to "technical issues." Additionally, there was a glitch with the LED screen, which froze on one image for several minutes during multiple songs.

The visuals were frequently breathtaking. A notable instance was when the screen cleverly simulated the venue's ceiling descending towards the audience, creating a captivating optical illusion. Meanwhile, during the performance of "Tryin to Throw Your Arms Around the World," a virtual balloon was attached to a real rope made of knotted bedsheets, suspended high above.

Furthermore, "Where the Streets Have No Name" treated us to a mesmerizing time-lapse video of the Nevada desert, capturing the sun's movement across the sky. It momentarily transported us outdoors, making us feel immersed in the natural surroundings.

The Sphere is a costly risk, and it remains uncertain whether other artists can utilize its distinctive space in a similarly inventive manner. However, the venue is showing promising potential. Should they manage to maintain this momentum, we might witness the emergence of the future of live performances.