The next MSG Sphere venue could be in Abu Dhabi, according to sources who say that the United Arab Emirates has become a focus after plans in Saudi Arabia and South Korea "stalled".
Sources told the New York Post that there "are serious talks" between US venue operator MSG and potential partners in Abu Dhabi about the second Sphere venue being built there. "They keep going back and forth", the sources added.
MSG has been in talks with other cities too, including Hanam in South Korea, where there are plans to build a Sphere as part of a bigger venture called K-Star World, which would also include a film studio, theme park and other K-pop related attractions.
However, it seems that MSG was hoping to start constructing its Korean Sphere in 2025, which wouldn't be possible under the standard planning process timelines. Which is possibly why plans there have “stalled”. Although the South Korean government did recently say that it would step in to fast-track that planning process.
According to a report in the Korea JoongAng Daily last month, "it takes more than 42 months to conduct a feasibility study to review the potential lifting of development restrictions and to go through other administrative procedures".
However, it then quoted a government official who said that "the government will fast-track licensing and other administrative procedures to reduce the period to 21 months to help [MSG and its partners] carry out the project as planned".
Of course, London was originally set to be the home of the second Sphere venue, the first having opened earlier this year in Las Vegas. The London Sphere would have been built next to the Olympic Park in Stratford.
However, the plans proved controversial with local residents, mainly because each Sphere venue is covered in an LED skin that turns it into a massive screen, which would be somewhat annoying for those living nearby. So London Mayor Sadiq Khan ultimately blocked the project.
In theory the UK government could still intervene and grant approval, though MSG has seemingly given up on its London ambitions, saying that it was now focusing on setting up shop in more "forward-thinking cities".
So, will it be forward-thinkers Hanam or Abu Dhabi that get some Sphere-style entertainment first? Who knows?
Though if you're looking for some Sphere-related entertainment sooner, MSG is being sued by two companies involved in the construction of the Las Vegas venue and that dispute is due in court in February. Given the project reportedly went a billion dollars over budget, that could be fun.
