{
  "id": 19250081,
  "title": "China plans an LED sphere a third bigger than the Las Vegas original, but for now it only exists on paper",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/china-plans-an-led-sphere-a-third-bigger-than-the-las-vegas-original",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-10T00:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/pro/china-plans-an-led-sphere-a-third-bigger-than-the-las-vegas-original-but-for-now-it-only-exists-on-paper"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Hong Kong-led company has proposed constructing a 168-meter, 20,000-seat LED sphere in Hangzhou, China, for ¥8 billion (~$1.2 billion). The venue would boast a 72,000m² exterior screen, making it a third larger than the Las Vegas Exosphere, currently the largest of its kind. The project remains in the planning stages, with no construction dates, vendor for the exterior screen, or display specifications announced. Dubbed the Eye of the World, the project was first reported by AV Magazine on October 30, 2026, at a services-sector conference in Hangzhou's Qiantang District. The Hangzhou sphere would be roughly 7% wider and 9% taller than its Las Vegas counterpart, with a third larger exterior screen. The proposed budget is significantly lower than the $2.3 billion spent on the Las Vegas Sphere, with annual revenue forecasts of ¥2.6 billion (~$400 million), closer to $360 million given the exchange rate. The venture is a collaboration between Hong Kong-based Xinshi International Investment Co. and Vision Eye (Hangzhou) Digital Entertainment Technology Co., led by Huang Junhao. The project's success hinges on meeting the stringent engineering requirements, as the scale and complexity of the LED screen present significant challenges.",
  "summary": "Hangzhou wants an LED sphere a third bigger than Vegas for half the price.",
  "key_points": [
    "Hong Kong-led company proposes 168-meter LED sphere in Hangzhou",
    "Venue would be 20,000 seats, 72,000m² exterior screen",
    "Project remains in planning stages with no construction dates"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Scaling up the LED sphere concept at a significantly lower cost suggests a push to challenge existing entertainment landmarks through massive, more affordable digital infrastructure projects.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}