Abu Dhabi wins rights to open Spheres across the region
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) has secured the rights to launch new Sphere venues across the Middle East and North Africa. The agreement was disclosed in a regulatory filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission
DCT Abu Dhabi, which is already working on a new Sphere in the emirate, will act as a regional master franchisee for the extraordinary entertainment tech concept. Under a 25-year franchise agreement, Abu Dhabi has secured exclusive rights to the region for a minimum 10 years, following the opening of its Abu Dhabi Sphere. The agreement includes options for two additional 10-year extensions.
Sphere Entertainment Co’s adoption of a franchise model in the Middle East and North America shifts construction and operational costs to a regional partner while securing ongoing revenue. There will be franchise initiation fees tied to project milestones, royalties based on total venue revenues, separate royalties for The Sphere Experience content, and fees for pre-construction, construction and ongoing operational services.
Sphere Abu Dhabi, which is now nearing the end of its pre-construction phase, is expected to “echo the scale” of Sphere Las Vegas which has seating for 17,600 and a total capacity of 20,000. The venue includes a 16K resolution wraparound LED screen, covering around 15,000 sqm, and providing a 170m pixel canvas. This system employs 64,000 LED panels and manufactured in 780 different geometric shapes.
Over 10,000 seats feature haptic technology, while the venue has scent and wind effects that can be synchronised with content.
