Prince George’s County approves $215 million bonds for National Harbor Sphere venue

Prince George’s County Council voted 8-0 to authorize up to $215 million in special obligation bonds to support the construction of the Sphere entertainment venue at National Harbor, according to WTOP. The bonds will be repaid gradually by Sphere Entertainment through tax revenues generated by the facility.

The proposed venue will seat 6,000 people and is part of a larger complex with an estimated cost of $1.4 billion, FOX 5 DC reported. The county will also build a $40 million parking garage and provide $130 million in bond financing, while the state of Maryland is contributing over $13 million.

County Executive Aisha Braveboy highlighted the economic benefits, projecting a $1.3 billion impact for Prince George’s County and $1.5 billion for Maryland. She noted the project is expected to generate about $63 million annually from property, sales, and amusement taxes, significantly surpassing revenues from the former Six Flags park and the soon-to-be-abandoned Northwest Stadium.

Work on the Sphere could begin within a few months, with an opening targeted for early 2030, WTOP reported. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs, although some union members have expressed concerns about labor protections, especially for construction workers.

The new venue would be the second large glowing orb operated by Sphere Entertainment, following a similar arena in Las Vegas, according to WTOP. The approval marks a major step toward revitalizing National Harbor’s entertainment offerings after recent setbacks in the area.