The Sphere in Las Vegas has been hailed for setting a new standard in live entertainment – and has smashed several records in the process.

At $2.3 billion, the giant structure which officially opened on September 29 is the costliest venue in Sin City. And measuring 336 feet tall and 516 feet wide, it is the largest spherical structure in the world.

Outside, the frame is wrapped with 1.2 million LED lights which transform it into an enormous, mesmerizing display that’s the largest ever made. Inside, a 16K curved screen – which is about 250ft tall and 400ft wide – is one of the highest resolution displays ever made.

Officially named Sphere at the Venetian Resort, it has launched with a residency from Irish band U2, whose sell-out shows offered tickets from $400 to $1,450.

Fans were dazzled by the ‘mind-blowing’ visuals beamed inside the 22,000-seat venue – and reviews said the band was overshadowed by the sheer scale of the cinematic effects.

The Sphere, the largest building of its kind in the world, is wrapped with 1.2 million external LEDs and has an enormous, 16K screen inside that’s 250ft tall and 400ft wide

The Sphere’s exterior is covered in 1.2 million LED lights which transform it into a mesmerizing display

Inside, another 16K screen which measures about 250ft tall and 400tf wide is essentially the largest TV in the world

Sphere opened on September 29 with the first night of U2’s U2:UV Achtung Baby Live residency

Other features include 4D capabilities that allow shows to include wind and scent simulation. 

The venue will set a new standard for the arena tour, according to industry watchers. Sphere also uses cutting-edge audio technology with 167,000 speakers to deliver headphone-quality sound to every seat.

There are nine interior levels that include VIP areas and boxes, concessions, and a basement club.

Sphere will host U2’s U2:UV Achtung Baby Live residency until December 16. On opening night, the legendary rock band, who have won 22 Grammys, performed for two hours.

The structure is a stone’s throw from The Strip and accessed through the Venetian. Construction started in 2019 with an initial projected cost of $1.2 billion – but the true cost ballooned to $2.3 billion.

Plans are currently in place to develop a copycat structure in London – but locals there have complained it would blight their surroundings by essentially operating as a massive billboard that can be used to host commercials 24/7.

Fans described the inside of the Sphere as ‘insane’ on the opening night of U2’s gigs

Wow: Rock legends U2 launched their Las Vegas residency on Friday night, which marks the official opening of the Sphere

Throughout US’2 opening night, there were a plethora of attractive visuals – including kaleidoscope images, a burning flag and the Las Vegas skyline.

‘What a fancy pad,’ said Bono, who was accompanied onstage with guitarists The Edge and Adam Clayton along with drummer Bram van den Berg. 

A slew of celebrities were among the crowd of more than 20,000 who received the first-look at the much-anticipated show, including Jon Hamm, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre, Dakota Fanning, Connie Britton, Elizabeth Banks, Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston, Josh Duhamel, Jane Seymour and Kate Hudson.

‘U2 opened the $2.3 billion Las Vegas Sphere last night and the visuals are incredible’, one fan wrote online.

A second said: ‘The Sphere is absolutely insane’.

A third joked: ‘The only concert where the nose-bleed seats are the best’.

A fourth added: ‘I still can’t believe that thing is real’.

In the warm-up to the show the Sphere showed beautiful landscape images

Images from U2’s concert show how the screens curve all around the venue, including above fans’ heads

Fans rushed to take photos and videos inside the venue as they gushed over the screen’s capabilities

Exciting! And fans have been going wild over the new shape and design of the venue

Incredible: At 336 feet tall and 516 feet wide, the Sphere has been described as the largest spherical structure in the world that comes complete with a 160,000 wraparound LED display, 164,000 speakers, along with 4D capabilities

Breath-taking: For now it is the home of the iconic Irish rockers’ U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency, who are playing their first of more than two dozen performances scheduled through December 16

Fans called the experience ‘insane’ and said that no concert ‘will ever be the same again’

Performance: The legendary rock band, who have won 22 Grammys , performed for two hours inside the massive, state-of-the-art spherical venue with crystal-clear audio

Details: Throughout the night, there were a plethora of attractive visuals – including kaleidoscope images, a burning flag and Las Vegas´ skyline

Pictures taken by fans inside the venue showed the height and capabilities of the venue, the first of its kind

‘Concerts will never be the same’, another added. 

The outside of Sphere, or the Exosphere, is the largest LED screen on Earth, consisting of approximately 1.2 million LED pucks spaced eight inches apart. Each puck contains 48 individual LED diodes. 

U2 is performing its opening shows for the first time without drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who’s taking this year off to treat and recuperate from various injuries he’s accumulated over the years. 

After wrapping up The Beatles’ jam ‘Love Me Do,’ Bono recognized Paul McCartney, who was in attendance, saying ‘Macca is in the house tonight.’ 

He acknowledged Sphere owner James Dolan’s efforts for spearheading a venue that’s pushing forward the live concert audio landscape with 160,000 high-quality speakers and 260 million video pixels.

Kate Hudson was among the fans at U2’s opening night at the Sphere in Las Vegas

The Sphere is the brainchild of Dolan, the executive chair of Madison Square Garden and owner of the New York Knicks and Rangers. 

He sketched the first drawing of the venue on notebook paper.

‘I’m thinking the that the Sphere may have come into existence because of Jim Dolan trying to solve the problem that The Beatles started when they played Shea Stadium,’ Bono said. 

‘Nobody could hear you. You couldn’t hear yourselves. Well, the Sphere’s here… Can you hear us?’

As U2 wrapped up the show, a bright light shined from the ceiling and the massive screen began to fill with images of birds, insects and reptiles above a lake. 

The band then closed its first Sphere concert with Beautiful Day, which won three Grammys in 2001. 

With sales of up to 170 million records from 15 studio albums over their career, U2 are considered one of the best-selling musical artists in history. 

Residency: The band is performing these shows for the first time without drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who’s taking this year off to treat and recuperate from various injuries he’s accumulated over the years

Outstanding: The band then closed its first Sphere concert with Beautiful Day, which won three Grammys in 2001