MSG Sphere will no longer be going ahead with plans to build an immersive entertainment venue near the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.
MSG's letter addressed to the Planning Inspectorate reads: “After spending millions of pounds acquiring our site in Stratford and collaboratively engaging in a five-year planning process with numerous governmental bodies, including the local planning authority who approved our plans following careful review, we cannot continue to participate in a process that is merely a political football between rival parties.”
It described the withdrawal of the application for development as “ extremely disappointing” due to the number of jobs it would have created in the city - as well as being a loss for Londoners who will now never get to admire the Sphere’s “groundbreaking technology”.
The proposed Sphere, envisioned by architect Populous, was intended to replicate the design of the Madison Square Garden Sphere in Las Vegas—an impressive $2 billion arena that hosted U2 in October 2023. The anticipated cost for The Sphere project was estimated at £800 million.
Why was the Vegas-inspired venue so controversial?
The labour party criticised plans for the MSG Sphere, with fears that it would cause too much disruption to residents.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the venue would cause “significant light intrusion resulting in significant harm to the outlook of neighbouring properties, detriment to human health, and significant harm to the general amenity enjoyed by residents of their own homes”.
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