54°F
weather icon Mostly Clear

Reports: U2 to open MSG Sphere, headline residency

Updated July 23, 2022 - 3:26 pm

U2 is expected to open the MSG Sphere and perform a multi-show engagement. This is according to original reporting from Billboard, citing multiple sources.

Madison Square Garden Entertainment spokeswoman said Saturday morning, “We don’t have any announcements to share at this time regarding the opening of MSG Sphere.”

The MSG Sphere is being built by Madison Square Garden Entertainment, headed up by chairman James Dolan.

U2 has frequently headlined in Las Vegas, including performances at Sam Boyd Stadium, Thomas & Mack Center and MGM Grand Garden. Their most recent Vegas shows were at T-Mobile Arena on May 11-12, 2018.

The U2 shows would be the first dates at the technically advanced music and theatrical production being built just behind The Venetian and Palazzo off Sands Avenue and the Strip. The venue is scheduled to open at the end of 2023, at a cost of $1.8 billion.

The U2 production would be presented as a residency, spread over multiple months and on non-consecutive days.

U2 is the second-highest grossing band ever, trailing only the Rolling Stones, with $2.22 billion earned and 28.3 million tickets sold. Among active rock acts, U2 is the longest-running band with its original lineup and no changes. The band formed in 1976.

The Sphere is set to seat 17,500, expanding to about 19,000 when standing is opened up. A 160,000-square-foot display plane, which wraps around the stadium-style seating, is among its groundbreaking technological features.

Cool Hang Alert

Aquarius, a 1960s cover band that has opened for the Beach Boys and Toto, among others, is back at Rhythm & Riffs at Mandalay Bay 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday. The band samples Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane and others. No cover. The dance floor, or in this case spin zone, is open.

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST