Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has reportedly blocked an application for the construction of a London version of the Las Vegas Sphere.
Sphere Entertainment Company, a subsidiary of Madison Square Garden Entertainment, opened the arena in September.
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The 18,600-seat auditorium took five years to build at a cost of around £2billion and is now a magnificent feature of ‘Sin City’.
Sphere provided a stunning backdrop for the Las Vegas Grand Prix at the weekend with its LED screens lighting up the inaugural track.
Last year, the London Legacy Development Corporation approved plans for a similar structure to be built at Stratford in east London.
However, Mark Kleinman of Sky News reports that they have been blocked by Mayor Khan due to fears of ‘excessive light pollution.’
A spokesperson said: “London is open to investment from around the world and Sadiq wants to see more world-class, ambitious, innovative entertainment venues in our city.
“But as part of looking at the planning application for the MSG Sphere, the Mayor has seen independent evidence that shows the current proposals would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents.”
The Olympic Park, where West Ham play their home games, was earmarked as the site on which the MSG Sphere would be built.
Designs from Architectural firm Populous, who also oversaw the Las Vegas version, include a seating capacity of 17,500 people.
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The music and entertainment venue would also have featured an LED screen on its exterior with a pixel resolution of 19,000 x 13,500.
Plans also considered a club venue fit for 3,000 people, but it doesn’t look as though London will welcome the Sphere anytime soon.
Rock band U2 have already held dates at the Las Vegas version and will continue until February, with Adele also performing there.
Fans who attend the building are treated to immersive video and audio, making it one of the most unique venues in the world.
One huge fan of the new state-of-the-art venue is British rock legend Noel Gallagher, who recently saw Bono and the Edge at the Vegas Sphere.
And he told talkSPORT he was left blown away: “I went there to see U2, and it’s mind-blowing. It really is unbelievable.
“I’ve seen a thousand U2 shows, I’ve been friends with them for 30-odd years, but I’ve never seen anything like that.
“It’s the clarity of the visuals, you cannot believe it’s on a screen. There’s a bit in one of the songs where the whole thing just looks like you’re all outside in the desert, and it feels like it as well, it’s amazing. It looks real.
“The outside of the Sphere is crazy when you look at it, but inside it’s just amazing, it really is stunning, and the sound is impeccable.
“Honestly, it’s far out!”
Maybe he can get one built in Manchester…