On May 13, Sphere Entertainment CEO James Dolan announced during a quarterly earnings call that the Sphere in Las Vegas would soon add audio to its external projections. This raised questions about how the Sphere would comply with Clark County’s noise ordinances.
On Tuesday, August 13, the Paradise Town Advisory Board addressed this issue by voting 3-1 in favor of granting a waiver that allows the Sphere, situated behind the Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip, to exceed Clark County’s noise limitations. The board, which advises the Clark County Planning Commission, approved noise levels from the Sphere’s “Exosphere” of up to 87 decibels. This is 22 decibels higher than the current county limit of 65 and two decibels above the World Health Organization’s maximum safe level for continuous exposure. However, the Sphere can only reach this noise level 18 times per year and must cease by midnight.
Despite receiving approval, the waiver faced opposition from residents of Park Towers, a nearby high-rise apartment building. Their windows and nerves were tested during the Sphere’s initial audio system trials on July 3 and 4. Sphere representatives described these tests as a mistake, noting the sound levels were higher than what the board later approved.
Initially, the waiver request from Sphere operator Madison Square Entertainment Corp. had no limits on noise levels or the number of annual ordinance violations. Changes were made following objections from board members. “That means you could make a jet engine, and I’m not going to go for that,” commented board member Katlyn Cunningham.
The Sphere’s Exosphere, the world’s largest digital display, has significantly altered the Las Vegas skyline, causing airline passengers to choose seats based on the best view of the structure. It also spurred a controversial ordinance banning people from stopping on pedestrian bridges along the Strip, where tourists often wait to take selfies with the Sphere’s striking graphics.
A primary challenge with external audio for the spherical venue is maintaining the necessary proximity for optimal sound, which could interfere with the best visual experience. The Exosphere, standing at 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide, is visible from more than a mile away, but images projected from directly beneath the venue appear as unrelated light pixels. Ideal viewing requires a distance of at least a quarter mile, leading many to pay between $11-$38.50 (plus fees and tax) to park at the LAZ Parking structure at 3763 Howard Hughes Parkway for a top-floor view of the Sphere.
Before the Sphere can officially increase its volume, the Clark County Planning Commission must also approve the waiver. The commission is expected to make its decision at the next meeting on September 4.
