Quick question: How is the Sphere planning to turn a profit? In November, it was reported that the venue was operating at a nearly $100 million loss after opening last September. The only musical act that has performed there is U2,

and that didn’t change tonight as the band streamed a performance from what I can only assume is now their home to the Grammys telecast. The sleek (but motion sickness-inducing) performance looked pretty indistinguishable from a tech company advertisement.

The only other artists currently scheduled to perform at the venue are Phish and Dead & Company, with the Darren Aronofsky film Postcard From Earth (shot specifically for the venue) screening intermittently in between.

Maybe jam bands and the like can keep the $2 billion structure afloat for a while, but if that well runs dry, it doesn’t seem like a place artists would stop at on their tours (since they’d likely have to design a new show utilizing the Sphere’s capabilities).

At a capacity of 18,000 to 20,000, it’s also too small for A-listers who are known for elaborate shows, like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. And after tonight, it doesn’t seem likely that Sphere CEO James Dolan attracted any new takers.
Unless he starts charging U2 rent, no amount of LED screens is making the Sphere’s future look bright.