Sphere Entertainment announces second venue in Abu Dhabi

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Sphere Entertainment, the company behind Sphere Las Vegas, announced plans for a new venue in Abu Dhabi.

The company says it will work with Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism to build a second Sphere in the United Arab Emirates' capital city.

"The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues, and today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal," Sphere Entertainment CEO James Dolan said in a statement. "Sphere is redefining live entertainment and extending the reach of its transformative impact."

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The second Sphere will echo the scale of the 20,000-seat venue in Las Vegas that opened last year, according to a press release.

Abu Dhabi will pay Sphere Entertainment a franchise initiation fee for the right to build the Sphere and fund construction. Sphere Entertainment's team will provide services for development, construction and pre-opening.

Once the venue is open, Sphere Entertainment says it expects to receive annual fees for creative and artistic content licensing and operations support.