Sphere Entertainment proposes 6,000-seat immersive ‘mini-Sphere’ at National Harbor near Washington, opening in 2030

A second U.S. Sphere is planned for the Washington region

Sphere Entertainment has outlined plans to develop a new Sphere venue at National Harbor, Maryland, positioning the project as the company’s second U.S. location after its Las Vegas flagship. The proposed venue would be the first Sphere built using a smaller-scale design model, with a planned capacity of 6,000 seats. Partners involved in the announcement include the State of Maryland, Prince George’s County, and Peterson Companies, the developer behind the National Harbor waterfront destination.

The project is framed as a long-range build. The venue is projected to open in 2030, and estimates presented with the plan place total development costs at more than $1 billion.

Technology-driven venue model, adapted to a smaller footprint

Project descriptions indicate the National Harbor Sphere would incorporate the same core technologies used in Las Vegas. Plans include a 16K-by-16K interior LED display, immersive audio, haptic seating, and 4D environmental effects. The exterior would also include an “Exosphere” LED display intended for artistic and branded content.

Sphere Entertainment has also described the National Harbor project as part of a broader strategy to build a network of Spheres in different sizes. Beyond Las Vegas, the company has previously announced a full-sized Sphere project under development in Abu Dhabi.

Public incentives and approvals remain key conditions

The proposal anticipates a financing structure that blends private funding with roughly $200 million in state, local, and private incentives. Public elements referenced in the project outline include subsidies and tax-related incentives, with a public parking garage also described as part of the package.

The plan is not final. Any construction, development, financing, and operation of a Sphere at National Harbor is contingent on negotiation and execution of definitive agreements and on receiving required governmental incentives and approvals in Maryland and Prince George’s County.

Economic projections and local impacts

Projections released alongside the announcement estimate about 2,500 jobs during construction and approximately 4,750 jobs once the venue is operational. The economic impact is projected to exceed $1 billion annually once open.

Local impact issues are expected to draw attention as the proposal moves through approvals. Among the concerns already associated with the concept is the visibility and brightness of the LED-covered exterior, a factor that has become a point of scrutiny in other cities that have considered Sphere-style development.

• Planned location: National Harbor, Prince George’s County, Maryland
• Planned capacity: 6,000 seats
• Target opening: 2030
• Estimated incentives package: about $200 million (state, local, and private)

The proposal sets up a major new venue project near the nation’s capital, while leaving final terms and approvals as the determining next steps.