ALBAWABA - London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, has quashed Madison Square Garden Entertainment's proposal to erect a 295-foot-tall mega-sphere serving as a concert venue in east London.
The decision, announced on Monday, was based on concerns raised by Khan regarding "significant light intrusion" for nearby residents. In a letter to the local planning authority, he criticized the proposed dome for its "bulky, unduly dominant, and incongruous form."
Khan emphasized in the letter that the design concept was highly energy-intensive, lacked a high sustainability standard, and fell short of constituting good and sustainable design. A spokesperson for Khan conveyed to Business Insider that while London welcomes global investment, independent evidence showed that the current proposal would have an unacceptable negative impact on local residents.
Las Vegas Sphere. (Shutterstock)
Madison Square Garden Entertainment recently inaugurated its first dome-shaped venue in Las Vegas, featuring a residency by U2. Despite the disappointment in London's decision, a spokesperson for Sphere Entertainment stated, "While we are disappointed in London's decision, there are many forward-thinking cities that are eager to bring this technology to their communities. We will concentrate on those." The venue, aptly named Sphere, is described on the company's website as "so bold and bright you can see it from space."
The Las Vegas dome, equipped with a wraparound LED screen and 168,000 speakers, gained viral attention as concertgoers shared photos and videos from inside the venue, which is connected to the Venetian hotel.
