Site Plans Reveal New Details for Proposed Sphere at National Harbor

Newly obtained site plans are offering a clearer picture of how a proposed Sphere entertainment venue could reshape the National Harbor waterfront in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

The documents show a roughly 300-foot-tall venue positioned near MGM National Harbor, with a design that could make the building taller than the neighboring hotel. The approximately $1 billion development would bring a smaller version of the immersive entertainment venue operating in Las Vegas to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

The plans obtained have not yet been formally submitted to Prince George’s County for review, according to the Washington Business Journal. As a result, the proposed layout could still change before the project enters the county’s approval process or construction begins.

The National Harbor venue would have a capacity of approximately 6,000 people for concerts and other live events. That would make it considerably smaller than the Las Vegas Sphere, which can accommodate more than 18,000 attendees for certain events.

Despite its reduced capacity and footprint, the Maryland development would include several of the infrastructure and guest-access features associated with a major destination venue.

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Plans call for multiple public plazas surrounding the building. Separate VIP and general admission entrances would face MGM National Harbor, creating a direct connection between the two entertainment properties. An elevated walkway would also link the Sphere and MGM, allowing visitors to travel between the sites without relying entirely on surrounding roads.

Transportation and pedestrian access appear to be significant components of the proposed design. A rideshare drop-off zone, limited parking and a pedestrian plaza would be built across from an existing northbound entrance ramp to Interstate 295. The plans also include a pedestrian bridge crossing above the ramp.

Operational areas would be located behind the venue, including a service yard and loading docks designed to support concert production, deliveries and other event-related activity.

Prince George’s County officials have presented the Sphere proposal as a potentially important economic development project for the region. The county is preparing for the closure-related impact of Six Flags America and the eventual departure of the Washington Commanders from Northwest Stadium.

An economic impact study released in February estimated that the development could generate approximately $1.3 billion in economic activity for Prince George’s County. The study projected an additional $200 million in economic benefits elsewhere in Maryland.