The Vegas Sphere

The Las Vegas Sphere is a modern-day sui generis — a construct unlike anything the world has ever seen. People travel from every corner of the globe to experience shows and entertainment in a way they never have before. The imagery on its outer dome gives spectators an inner feeling of oohs and ahs that they simply cannot pull away from. They say the screen can even be seen through cameras from the International Space Station. Lucky for us, we get to see it up close and personal. If you are more than a fifteen-minute walk away, I would recommend a rideshare or simply driving — there is great parking at the Sphere and it is easy to get in and out. Either way, you will want to save your energy for what is inside. The first thing my wife and I noticed was how friendly the staff was. Nobody was annoyed with questions. We were greeted with a warm smile and a genuine "have a great time" — and sent off with the same courtesy on the way out. We went to see The Wizard of Oz, and we definitely were not in Kansas anymore. Walking into the atrium, you will have plenty to look at and you will feel that same sense of excitement you used to get as a kid riding a big roller coaster for the first time. One important thing to know: your tickets may say no entrance after the start time. That means you cannot enter the Sphere itself — not the auditorium. We did not know this and were rushing, which cost us the chance to properly browse the concessions. We grabbed a rainbow Oz-themed popcorn on the way in — it is small but delicious, and if you are a light snacker it will last you throughout the show — but some of those other concessions looked amazing, and I would have loved the time to actually enjoy them. This is one of those things that would have been highly useful to know going in. We sat in section 305 and were both taken aback by how high up we were and how steep the incline is. If you get motion sick easily or are sensitive to heights, sit lower — even if it costs a little more. The screen surrounding you and the movement of the imagery will absolutely affect you at that elevation. The screen itself is nothing short of amazing. The sound quality is out of this world — bring earplugs if you are sensitive. It is deeply immersive, and the entertainment factor is exceptionally high. For as many times as I have watched The Wizard of Oz, I genuinely enjoyed this version of it the most. I left feeling slightly less enthusiastic than when I entered. The experience is awesome, but I do not feel it is worth full price — and I think most people would agree. Discount tickets are out there if you look, and I strongly recommend finding one before you go. Everything about the Sphere is worth visiting at a discounted rate. It earns you legitimate bragging rights, and rightfully so. But I will honestly say my favorite moment of the entire experience was watching it glow from my balcony.