The inaugural concert at Las Vegas' Sphere, the city's latest state-of-the-art music venue, has received overwhelming praise from concert-goers and online commentators following its official opening last week. This new concert hall boasts an enormous high-resolution, floor-to-ceiling screen that spans 160,000 square feet, providing a truly immersive experience for attendees. The U2 concert, which served as the Sphere's inauguration, was widely shared on social media and garnered millions of views, receiving widespread acclaim.

However, plans to replicate the Sphere in London have faced opposition from local residents who are apprehensive about the proposed location in East London and the potential light pollution it may cause. The Stop MSG Sphere campaign group has expressed concerns about the detrimental impact the new venue could have on the area. Lindesay Mace, the group's spokeswoman, emphasized that their opposition is not against a new music venue in the vicinity but rather directed at the "offensive nature of the building."

According to the campaign group, the Stratford site earmarked for the new Sphere is surrounded by residential properties, with some homes located as close as 250 feet to the venue. Critics have also criticized the developer's offer of black-out window blinds for those residing in close proximity to the concert hall. MSG Entertainment, the developer, argues that the London Sphere would transform an undeveloped site into a thriving destination, serving as a long-term investment in the future of London while creating numerous employment opportunities. If approved, the proposed London Sphere will rival the iconic Big Ben in height, measuring nearly 300 feet, with a diameter of almost 400 feet. Similar to its interior, the exterior of the Sphere will be adorned with an enormous screen capable of displaying various visual effects and advertisements.

Nate Higgins, a Green Party councillor representing the local area, expressed his dissatisfaction with the project, stating that "Stratford is not Las Vegas." Higgins claims that among those residing near the proposed site, he has not encountered any supporters of the project. He suspects that the developers are primarily interested in constructing an advertising screen in a densely populated area rather than building a new concert venue that supports local artists.

During one of the meetings held to address residents' concerns, a local resident stated, "This is not a normal building. It's a giant glowing orb. There's one in Vegas, and I don't think anyone here wants to live in Vegas." The project still requires approval from Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, before construction can commence. CBS News has reached out to MSG London for comment and will update the story accordingly.

The $2.3 billion replica of the US concert venue, known as the Sphere, is facing opposition in Stratford, East London, due to concerns over light pollution and wildlife impact. This concert hall, designed to revolutionize live entertainment, is a colossal sphere that towers over the skyline and projects vibrant images, including an eye, a basketball, and the moon, through its thousands of LED screens. The Sphere made its debut in Las Vegas, where U2 performed to an audience of 18,000, leaving concert-goers in awe.

However, the planned replica in Stratford has encountered resistance from local residents who argue that the black-out blinds offered by developers are insufficient to mitigate light pollution and the resulting nuisance. Bono, the lead singer of U2, referred to James Dolan, the inventor of the Sphere and a prominent US mogul, as a "mad bastard" during the opening concert in Las Vegas. The venue, equipped with 16,000 seamlessly-connected screens, delivered mesmerizing desert landscapes, swirling animals, and kaleidoscopic visions to the captivated audience. The entire structure is wired for sound, featuring patented technology that can deliver crystal-clear, headphone-quality audio through 167,000 speakers, ensuring an immersive experience for every attendee.

The planned London arena, which rivals Big Ben in height (96 meters) and boasts the same width as the London Eye (120 meters), can accommodate up to 21,500 visitors. The Sphere's manufacturer, MSG, envisions the venue hosting a wide array of events, including concerts, awards ceremonies, boxing matches, and gaming events. The project received planning permission last year but still awaits final approval from Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up.