Las Vegas-style 'Sphere' venue coming to Maryland following county council approval

Sphere National Harbor will be located just outside of Washington, DC, on the banks of the Potomac River, and will feature a 6,000-seat theater equipped with high-resolution displays and an exterior LED screen. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with an anticipated opening in 2030.

Prince George’s County Council voted unanimously to approve the project on Tuesday, and agreed to issue $215 million in bonds to the developers, which the Sphere Entertainment Company will gradually repay, per The Washington Sun.

Prince George’s County estimates that Sphere National Harbor will provide $1.6 billion in economic benefits to the county during its construction phase, including 3,350 full- and part-time construction-related jobs. Once in operation, the total economic impact from operations and visitor spending is estimated at over $1.3 billion per year for the surrounding area.

Earlier in October, the county council shot down a proposal that would have required 40 percent of construction labor to come from unionized workers. Instead, it passed an agreement that would allow union groups to organize Sphere workers once it opens. The venue is set to have 328 full-time jobs and 925 part-time positions once open.