You have to see it: The largest LED sphere in the world
This is not a moon. And not a space station either. It's the "MSG Sphere" in Las Vegas! The world's largest spherical structure will host film, sports, concert and eSports events in the future.
There are things that don't exist. Until they do exist. And often they are in Las Vegas: the "MSG Sphere". It was inaugurated with great fanfare at the beginning of the week. No wonder: the Sphere is not just the largest LED wall and highest spherical structure in the world. Inside, the Sphere is a cinema, theatre and concert stadium with LED architecture that is at least as crazy.
Sound crazy? Just wait and see. It gets even better.
An LED wall on the outside, a multimedia arena on the inside
Let's talk about numbers. The sphere is 110 metres high - taller than the Global Vipassana Pagoda in Mumbai, the tallest spherical structure in the world to date. It would even fit the Statue of Liberty inside the MSG Sphere. The LED construction on the outside measures 53,000 square metres. That is equivalent to about seven football pitches. With the right material, it could easily pass for the Eye of Sauron. Or as the Death Star.
Inside, on the other hand, is the "small" LED wall. It is "only" 14,860 square metres in size. That's equivalent to just over two football pitches. It is also spherical and "winds" around a grandstand opposite, which offers space for over 17,000 seats. The aim is to create the feeling of an amphitheatre. Or an arena - a multimedia arena. Cost: around two billion US dollars.
Source: The Madison Square Garden Company
According to the company, the LED walls consist of hundreds of thousands of modules with 48 diodes each, each of which can display 256 million colours. Inside, even a 16K resolution should be possible. This corresponds to an image with over 130 million pixels. In terms of sound, the arena should also be beyond reproach: around 165,000 loudspeakers will provide visitors with sound.
At the moment, the Sphere only shines from the outside. But the arena is to be officially opened in September with a U2 concert - naturally with a groundbreaking show. After that, the arena will not only be used for films and concerts, but also for sporting events such as boxing and even eSports events. Awesome, isn't it?
Source: The Madison Square Garden Company
Apropos: An exact replica of the MSG Sphere is also to be built in Stratford, London. It is not yet known when the London Sphere will be completed.
Cover photo: The Madison Square Garden Company
I write about technology as if it were cinema, and about films as if they were real life. Between bits and blockbusters, I’m after stories that move people, not just generate clicks. And yes – sometimes I listen to film scores louder than I probably should.
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