James Dolan Wants Beyonce for Vegas Sphere

Posted on: November 16, 2023, 12:20h. 

Last updated on: November 16, 2023, 12:20h.

James Dolan wants one single lady as the next headliner for his Las Vegas Sphere, the New York Post reports. But the CEO of Sphere Entertainment may need to put a $10M ring on it.

According to unnamed sources quoted by the newspaper, Dolan is speaking with the pop superstar’s team about taking up where U2 lets off next year. Beyonce’s manager-mother, Tina Knowles, and her husband, Jay-Z have already taken separate tours of the globular venue behind the Venetian, The Post reports.

However, Beyonce’s team is asking for $10M to produce the high-tech video required for a Sphere residency. That’s the same size check U2 was cut.

U2 opened the 18,600-seat Sphere on Sept. 29 and concludes its 36-date “U2:UV Achtung Baby” residency on Feb. 18. No other Sphere concerts are scheduled after that.

Beyonce would bring a more Millennial vibe to the Sphere than the Gen-Xers attracted by U2. She’s also a bigger draw than U2. Tickets for her “Renaissance World Tour” this past summer were in such high demand, even “obstructed view” seats sold for hundreds of dollars.

Beyonce wrapped her “Renaissance World Tour” Oct. 1 and has no shows scheduled for next year.

Best Thing I Never Had

While Queen Bey might land the $10M production fee, however, Dolan will not also want to turn over 90% of ticket sales to her. That’s the unheard-of deal U2 reportedly cut for being the guinea pigs for Dolan’s $2.3 billion venue, which came in more than $1 billion over budget.

This is especially true after Sphere Entertainment lost $98.4M for the quarter ending Sept. 30, a day after its chief financial officer quit after witnesses say he was chewed out by Dolan.

During a Nov. 8 earnings call, Dolan told analysts he expects to host two residencies in the first half of 2024.

“We’re having conversations with artists across a wide variety of genres, including discussing runs of varying lengths,” he said.

The Post reported that Dolan has also been discussing future residencies with Paul McCartney, Bon Jovi, and Lady Gaga — who guested on one of U2’s Sphere shows last month. However, The Post has also reported in August that the Eagles had already “locked in dates” at the Sphere, though nothing further apparently ever came of that.

The Sphere’s stock price was down slightly on Wednesday, trading at around $36.

Source: casino.org