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While Tokyo is gearing up to welcome a host of new attractions and facilities this year, nothing we’ve heard in a while feels quite as ambitious as the prospect of the capital’s very own Sphere-style arena. As reported by the Japan Times, Tokyo-based financial group SBI Holdings is exploring plans to replicate the iconic Las Vegas venue as part of a larger move by the company into the entertainment business.
In a media briefing early in April, SBI said it had begun negotiations with US-based Madison Square Garden Entertainment to develop the spherical arena, which could feature a wraparound LED dome for an intensely immersive experience.
As for where the arena would be built, the group is considering the waterfront district of Odaiba as a potential home for the estimated ¥350 billion project. If plans go ahead, the proposed venue could accommodate up to 20,000 guests and host immersive films and live concerts with its 360-degree LED display.
The project is still in the early stages and no opening date has been announced. But if realised, it could be a major boost for the city; after all, who among us doesn’t love the idea of a giant ball looming over the bay area?
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