Vegas Sphere launches with elaborate exterior light show on July 4th

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The Sphere in Las Vegas held its first full official display to celebrate the 4th of July on Tuesday.

The building is the latest concert and entertainment venue to hit Sin City, with a capacity of nearly 19,000 seats.

According to MSG Entertainment, the company behind the Sphere, it stands 366 feet tall, 516 feet across, and its Exosphere (the name for its exterior display) features 580,000 square feet of fully-programmable LED lighting – all of which were completely illuminated Tuesday,

I think, ultimately, it's going to be F1 and Super Bowl combined every day. I mean, it's just such a phenomenal experience for all your senses," said Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, ahead of the display. The Sphere is located in his district. "Both outside, and when you get inside, it's gonna blow you away.

MSG Entertainment said it's the largest LED screen on earth, and the Sphere itself, according to them, is the largest spherical structure on the planet.

"I like all the views of Vegas. It's Vegas," said Tony Caporale, who lives in the Elysian at Hughes Center Apartments. "That apartment I'm moving into, I guess I'll put some good curtains up. We have blinds, but you're gonna need some curtains with the Sphere."

Indeed, the 580,000 square full fully-programmable LED exterior showcased fireworks and stars and stripes animations, along with several other pieces of visual displays.

The Exosphere is more than a screen or a billboard – it is living architecture, and unlike anything that exists anywhere in the world," Guy Barnett, senior vice president for brand strategy and creative development at Sphere Entertainment, said in a statement Wednesday. "[Tuesday] night’s show provided a glimpse of the Exosphere’s captivating power, and the possibilities for artists, partners, and brands to create compelling and impactful stories to connect with audiences in new ways.

Sphere executives say the venue has about 1.2 million LED pucks that are spaced 8 inches apart. Each puck has 48 individual LED diodes, and each diode can display 256 million different colors.

The company says the Sphere will have more creative displays in conjunction with major Las Vegas events.

U2 will launch the first shows at the venue in September with its "UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere" show, while "Postcard from Earth," specially designed for the Sphere by director Darren Aronofsky, will debut in October.