U2’s Las Vegas residency arena MSG Sphere to cost $2.3 billion

U2’s Las Vegas residency is set to begin in late September in the cities’ new MSG Sphere, with the arena's construction set to reach an estimated $2.3 billion in costs.

The band, who have not played a live show for almost four years, are set to earn $100 million (€92 million) in revenue across 25 shows at the soon to be finished arena, at the Venetian in Las Vegas.

The U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere shows will start on 29 September 2023, in the world’s most technologically advanced music arena ever seen. Tickets are available here for their first 17 shows, with the first four nights having already sold out.

"We’re the right band, ACHTUNG BABY the right album, and Sphere the right venue to take the live experience of music to the next level", the band said after the announcement of their up coming live Vegas shows.

U2 were originally scheduled to play just five live shows, with this number increasing twice due to high demand. No other artists have been confirmed to play at the Sphere.

Tickets to see U2 cost upwards of $750, with some tickets as much as $1,500. The band has also announced eight more live shows at the Vegas venue, with tickets yet to go on sale for these additional dates.

In an interview with Hot Press, The Edge described The Sphere as “a brand new class of entertainment venue.”

“It won’t be possible to do what we will do in this venue anywhere else,” said The Edge. “We won’t be touring whatever this concert is, it will only be able to be seen at this venue because it will be so much about the technology and what it allows us to do.”

“It is to do with the scale: it’s a completely immersive screen, and the sound controls again gives you the opportunity for totally immersive sound. You can literally give different audio experiences to different people in different seats. We’re just thrilled and honoured to be asked to open this venue.”

Credit: Louis van Baar

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Other famous music artists playing Las Vegas residencies this year include Irish favourite Garth Brooks, Maroon 5, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.

Construction costs for the Las Vegas arena have now surpassed $2 billion, with the most recent budget figures now at $2.3 billion, more than $1 billion over the original estimates for construction of the new state of the art arena.

The arena is being developed by MSG and the Las Vegas Sands corporation. When plans for the Sphere’s construction were first announced five years ago, construction costs were estimated at $1.2 billion dollars.

This figure was adjusted to $1.7 billion, and has since increased again to $2.3 billion, making it the most expensive music arena ever built.

The Sphere’s ever increasing costs were put down to the “overall complexity of the project” according to officials. Complications caused by the Covid-19 pandemic are also cited as factors affecting the construction and cost of construction of the 20,000 seater arena.