BREAKING: A Mini-Sphere Is Coming to National Harbor — and It’s a $200M Bet on Prince George’s County
This one came out of nowhere.
Maryland officials just announced plans for a “mini-Sphere” — a scaled-down version of the iconic Las Vegas Sphere — proposed for National Harbor in Prince George’s County.
Yes, that Sphere.
If approved, it would be only the second Sphere venue in the United States, and the first smaller-scale version anywhere in the world.
This is a big swing. And it raises big questions.
What We Know So Far
The project is being led by Sphere Entertainment, working with the state of Maryland, Prince George’s County, and Peterson Companies.
The proposed venue would include:
A 6,000-seat immersive theater
The massive Exosphere LED exterior that turns the building itself into a screen
The highest-resolution LED display in the world
4D effects, immersive sound, and next-gen live entertainment tech
The estimated cost: $200 million, using a mix of public incentives and private funding.
Projected impact:
~2,500 construction jobs
~4,700 permanent jobs
More than $1 billion in annual economic activity
Target opening: 2030 — assuming it clears county and state approvals.
Why This Is Happening Now
The timing matters.
Prince George’s County has taken multiple entertainment hits in the last year:
Six Flags America is gone
The Washington Commanders are officially leaving Landover
RFK Stadium’s future remains uncertain
This Sphere proposal feels like a direct response — a signal that PG County wants to stay in the regional spotlight.
Governor Wes Moore is calling it one of the largest economic development projects in county history. County Executive Aisha Braveboy has labeled it a “world-class win.”
And on paper? They’re not wrong.
The original Las Vegas Sphere has hosted U2, the Eagles, Dead & Company, and blockbuster immersive shows that reportedly generate millions per day.
The Caution Flag
Here’s the part that deserves scrutiny.
This isn’t transit.
It’s not housing.
It’s not education infrastructure.
It’s a luxury entertainment venue, partially backed by public dollars.
That doesn’t make it bad — but it does mean the execution has to be flawless.
Attendance projections, job quality, spillover spending, and long-term relevance all matter here. If this becomes a novelty that peaks early, the public return gets a lot harder to justify.
Why National Harbor Makes Sense — If It’s Done Right
If a Sphere is going anywhere in the DMV, National Harbor is the logical spot.
You already have:
MGM National Harbor
Hotels, tourism, and conference traffic
Waterfront visibility
Access to D.C., Virginia, and Maryland audiences
But it can’t operate as a silo.
The success of this project depends on whether it lifts the entire area, not just one glowing building.
The Bigger Story
This isn’t just about a Sphere.
It’s about whether Maryland can land a headline-grabbing project and deliver lasting value — without overpromising or underdelivering.
If it works, Prince George’s County gets a new global landmark.
If it doesn’t, it becomes another cautionary tale.
Either way, this just became one of the most important development stories in the region.
I’ll be watching how the approvals — and the fine print — shake out.
Chris Colgan EXP Realty
