Planning Board Greenlights 302-Foot Sphere for National Harbor
Detailed site plans were approved unanimously, revealing interior views and traffic flow strategies for the new 6,000-seat venue.
By Luis Medina ·
National Harbor’s skyline will soon include a 302-foot spherical entertainment venue. The Prince George’s County planning board unanimously approved the detailed site plan on Thursday, following a public hearing.
The approval comes one week after the Prince George’s County Council voted to finance the project. New renderings now show how the structure will appear from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, the Beltway, and nearby Oxon Hill, Maryland. The images also provide an interior perspective of the 6,000-seat space and compare the venue’s scale to the adjacent MGM Casino.
Logistical elements are central to the approved plan. The renderings depict a pedestrian bridge connecting the parking lot to the entrance. Sphere representatives explained their traffic strategy during the hearing, noting five drive-outs and five drop-offs on either side to move guests quickly.
Residents voiced mixed reactions during the public comment period. One speaker argued the venue should be located in an area with existing six-lane highways rather than near single-family residential zones. Others cited the closure of the local Six Flags location and federal job cuts as reasons to support new sources of tax revenue and employment. A different resident raised concerns about light pollution affecting local wildlife and homes.
Sphere representatives addressed these environmental concerns by stating that the panels used at National Harbor are less bright than those in Las Vegas. James Hunt, the acting planning director for the county planning department, confirmed the project met all zoning ordinances and development standards. He noted that the design aligned with the overall intent for the National Harbor area.
The next phase of the process focuses on parking requirements. The Prince George’s County Planning Department expects to determine these specifics in the spring. A public hearing will be held to discuss parking concerns before construction can proceed.
The site plan approval is the final major hurdle before the county can issue permits for the physical construction of the venue.
