From Las Vegas to the Potomac: Maryland Targets Second U.S. Sphere at National Harbor

January 20, 2026

Maryland officials have announced plans to construct a Sphere entertainment venue at National Harbor in Prince George's County, which would become only the second such facility in the United States after Las Vegas and the first built at a smaller scale. The proposed venue would accommodate approximately 6,000 attendees and feature advanced technology including a massive LED exterior display, immersive sound systems, and haptic seating designed to create fully enveloping entertainment experiences. State and local governments, along with private sources, plan to provide roughly $200 million in incentives for the project, which officials estimate will generate about 2,500 construction jobs, 4,750 permanent positions, and over $1 billion in annual economic impact.

Who is affected

Prince George's County residents and visitors
Maryland state residents
National Harbor's existing 15 million annual visitors
Sphere Entertainment (James L. Dolan, executive chairman and CEO)
Peterson Companies (Jon Peterson, CEO)
Gov. Wes Moore and County Executive Aisha Braveboy
Future construction workers (approximately 2,500 jobs projected)
Future venue employees (approximately 4,750 positions projected)
Businesses in the National Harbor area including hotels, restaurants, casinos, and convention facilities

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The article describes confirmed plans and proposals, but does not indicate that construction or other implementation activities have begun.

Why it matters

This project represents one of the largest economic development initiatives in Prince George's County history, with projected annual economic impact exceeding $1 billion. The venue would position the region as home to cutting-edge entertainment technology, creating thousands of jobs and strengthening National Harbor's status as a premier regional destination for tourism, conventions, and entertainment. The Sphere's location near Washington, D.C., Reagan National Airport, and major highways would make advanced immersive entertainment accessible to the entire capital region. Additionally, it demonstrates Prince George's County's ability to attract world-class flagship projects that compete on a national level.

What's next

Final construction and operation remain dependent on completed agreements and required approvals from state and county officials.

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer