Tom Hall
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) wants to transform an undeveloped site in Stratford, East London, into MSG Sphere – a modern music and entertainment venue that will pioneer the next generation of immersive experience.
If approved, MSG Sphere would become a thriving destination that also serves as a long-term investment in the future of London, supporting thousands of jobs and delivering billions of pounds of economic benefit for Newham, London and the UK.
The 90-metre-high structure will hold 21,500 people and generate 4,300 jobs during construction.
The spherical structure would seat 17,566 people, or hold 21,500 with a mix of seated and standing options.
Designed by Populous, the architecture firm behind Wembley Stadium, the initial ‘golf ball’ designs have developed into a more embedded structure covered in LED panels that can display high-definition concert footage or advertising images.
The main concert venue would be a clamshell shape, with curved seating facing a stage on one side. Concerts, awards shows, circus events, e-sports events and ring sports such as boxing or UFC could be held there.
The MSG Sphere would also host a separate 1,500-capacity venue, designed to help support grassroots and emerging music acts, plus a 450-capacity restaurant and nightclub, cafes and retail spaces.
Another large LED screen will also be installed on the inside of the concert hall’s curved walls, allowing for ‘immersive’ performances and augmented reality. Four new bridges would connect the structure to the surrounding area.
