Londoners have been warned against building a massive new concert hall in the shape of a glowing sphere, as the twin building in Las Vegas has been likened by residents to a ‘sun on earth’.
Plans for the Madison Square Garden (MSG) Sphere in Stratford, east London, moved ahead last week after its advertisement – which will run from dawn until late at night – atop the Big Ben-sized 36 million LED venue – Luminaires have been approved by the London Planning Committee.
The Las Vegas version of the venue – due to open later this year – had its display tested last week.
And after seeing the lights on the nearly 365-foot-tall sphere from nearly two miles away, 36-year-old Billy Cline said, “It’s almost like building a sun on Earth.”
Londoners have been warned about the construction of a massive new concert hall – the Madison Square Garden Sphere – in the form of a glowing sphere, as the twin building in Las Vegas has been likened by residents to a “sun on earth”. Pictured: A rendering of the MSG Sphere for Stratford, East London
Plans for the Madison Square Garden (MSG) Sphere in Stratford, east London, progressed last week after the advertisement was approved
Rendering of the MSG Sphere, a proposed concert venue in Stratford, east London
Las Vegas residents may need to buy blackout blinds and drapes to combat skyrocketing light pollution, Mr Cline told the Guardian.
While the bright building seems right at home in Las Vegas — known for its gleaming casinos and venues — Mr. Cline said he didn’t think anything similar would come through in other US cities like San Fransico or Los Angeles, or in residential areas .
In the Las Vegas Review Journal, Mick Akers said that his town’s residents “are already used to it.” [bright lights]’Construction work in a residential area (like Stratford) could cause problems at night.
In March last year, the 300-foot-tall Sphere was given the go-ahead by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) to be built on an empty piece of land between Stratford Station and Olympic Park.
The music venue, which is reportedly set to cost £800million, will include a 21,500-seat arena as well as bars and restaurants, and the project has been hailed as “pioneering the next generation of immersive experiences”.
The lights on the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas (pictured) were tested earlier this week
“It’s almost like building a sun on Earth,” said Billy Cline of Las Vegas
But despite planning approval, the proposed structure was branded a “monstrous glowing sphere” as hundreds of local residents complained that it would “pollute” the area with light and noise pollution.
It is claimed the bullet, which was backed by the University of East London and former Culture Secretary Matt Hancock, would boost London’s economy by £2.5billion
MSG’s Paul Westbury said in March that the “state-of-the-art venue” would help establish Stratford as a “global destination for music and technology” and that the plans had been “informed by” feedback from local residents.
West Ham MP Lyn Brown, who is opposed to construction, has called the sphere “monstrous” and raised fears of added pressure on local transport. Especially at the Stratford train station, which already serves travelers to the Westfield shopping center and the 60,000 seat West Ham stadium.
She called on Mayor Sadiq Khan or Municipality and Leveling Up Secretary Michael Gove to intervene to prevent or limit construction of the Sphere.
The Labor MP also previously scolded the LLDC for the fact that the site was previously public land that could have been used for housing before it was sold to real estate company Westfield and eventually MSG.
West Ham MP Lyn Brown, who is opposed to construction, has called the sphere “monstrous” and raised fears of added pressure on local transport
The venue will include a 21,500-seat arena as well as bars and restaurants, and the project has been hailed as “pioneering the next generation of immersive experiences”.
More than 1,000 local residents formally protested the planning application, while a petition calling for the project to be halted garnered more than 2,000 signatures.
Charity manager Sanch Kanagarajah, 39, who lives in a block of flats across from the venue, told the Guardian he was worried his sleep would be disturbed by the lights and moving images.
Green Party Councilor for Stratford Olympic Park Nate Higgins told the planning committee on Tuesday that locals “don’t want the sphere at all” and would be forced to buy blackout blinds so a private developer could build a “massive advertising screen that would stand out.” as a disguised entertainment venue”.
An LLDC spokesman said the proposed plans involved “substantial consultation” and were “subject to rigorous review and detailed official reports.”
An MSG spokesperson told the Guardian that they are “committed to being a good neighbor in Stratford and fully understand the concerns of some residents” and “recognize the differences between Las Vegas and Newham”.
They added that the London Sphere operates at limited brightness and at different times of the day compared to the Vegas Sphere.
A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: “As this is a live application which will be referred back to the Mayor, we are unable to comment ahead of time on any decision he might make.”