A Las Vegas-style 'mini Sphere' could be installed next to Maryland's MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino by 2030. BonusFinder, a casino bonus comparison site, reveals the latest.
The proposal follows an October 2025 announcement from Sphere Entertainment (the company behind Las Vegas' Sphere), in which Chairman and CEO James Dolan outlined plans for several scaled-down projects across US cities.
Plans for the Maryland Sphere were unveiled on Sunday, January 18, where it was announced that this venue would reside directly beside MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino on the Potomac River coastline, comprise 6,000 seats and feature the highest-definition LED screen in… the world.
MGM Casino Sphere to be one-third the size of Las Vegas sibling
As revealed by Sphere Entertainment, development for this National Harbor scheme has already received backing from the State of Maryland and Prince George's County.
It stands as just the second confirmed US Sphere, yet international plans are firmly on the docket:
"Our focus has always been on creating a global network of Spheres across forward-looking cities," outlined CEO Dolan in a public statement.
Dolan continued: "Sphere is a new experiential medium. With a commitment to bringing innovative opportunities to residents and visitors, Governor Moore, County Executive Braveboy, the State of Maryland, and Prince George's County recognize the potential for a Sphere at National Harbor to elevate and advance immersive experiences across the area."
Maryland Governor Wes Moore pointed to the state's high-quality entertainment – to which the nearby MGM Casino adds more than 2,300 slots and 160 table games.
"Maryland has a long history of providing world-class entertainment and we could not be more excited to work with Sphere Entertainment to bring this cutting-edge project to life. This will be one of the largest economic development projects in Prince George's County history.
"We're excited for what this means for our people, and how it will showcase the best of what Maryland has to offer to everyone who visits."
Official renders situate the new downsized Sphere just north-east of the MGM Casino building, which itself sits on the east side of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.
Financial costs and revenue remain uncertain
The Maryland Sphere is forecast to house a 4D experience through haptic seating and to host: sports events, conferences, entertainment shows and other large-scale performances – with "all of Sphere's advanced technologies" to be incorporated.
Sphere Entertainment maintains that it will leverage public and private funding for its construction, including $200m in multi-sector incentives. The project also expects to create 2,500 jobs during construction and 4,500 upon opening.
However, questions around final costs swirl – particularly after the Las Vegas Sphere's $1.2bn budget doubled to $2.3bn upon its 2023 opening.
For MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino, the new 'mini Sphere' presents fresh opportunities to strengthen its already-firm position in the US market.
Having debuted in 2016, the 159,000 square-foot venue now operates one of the nation's highest-grossing gambling establishments, presiding over a sportsbook, in-house casino and over 300 rooms.
If Sphere Entertainment's $1bn revenue projections are accurate, MGM Casino will likely stand as a key beneficiary by becoming much more than a gambling destination, akin to New York's Hard Rock Metropolitan Park entertainment complex.
