This City Just Scuttled Plans for a Second Las Vegas-Style Sphere

The Sphere debuted in Las Vegas last year and became an instantly iconic part of the city’s landscape, for better or worse. Following the reception of the Sphere and its inaugural residency, the Madison Square Garden Company announced plans to build a similar structure in London, another city that attracts millions of tourists every year. But MSG will have to look for a new home for its second Sphere. 

The company had its sights on a location in Stratford, East London that remained abandoned since the 2012 Olympics. In November 2023, the city’s mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his opposition to the project. Shortly thereafter, Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, opened up the possibility of overruling the mayor, but the developers lost interest. 

In a new statement on Jan. 8, a spokesperson reiterated the developers’ choice. “We have informed Mr. Gove that our decision not to move forward with our plans for Sphere in London stands,” they said, per Rolling Stone. “We are committed to continuing to work collaboratively with forward-thinking cities around the world who are serious about bringing this next-generation entertainment experience to their communities.”

While the developers lamented all the hard work, time, and money spent on the project, they changed their plans because of the polarization the Sphere brought with it. “We cannot continue to participate in a process that is merely a political football between rival parties,” they said. 

Related: Las Vegas Sphere Lost Tons of Money as CFO Quit

MSG has yet to announce a new proposed location for a second Sphere, but it has hinted before that a Vegas-like Sphere in the United Arab Emirates could come to fruition one day. For now, visitors to London will have to settle for the London Eye.