A turntable segment, featuring non-“Achtung Baby” songs each night, showcased large images of the band members, illustrating the venue’s limitless potential for innovation.
Star-Studded Opening Night
U2 played another show the next night, 12 more in October and three in the first week of November. The gross and attendance figures average out to $6.5 million and 16,500 tickets per show. The average ticket price across all shows was $390.97.
On opening night, The Sphere hosted a constellation of celebrities, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Jon Hamm. The fusion of U2 and The Sphere drew praise from Bryan Cranston, who remarked, “U2 is arguably one of the biggest rock bands ever to exist, and this is arguably one of the greatest music venues on the planet.”
Viva Las Vegas
Bono’s playful references to Las Vegas touchstones, including Elvis and the Rat Pack, added a unique flair to the performance. The Sphere became an Elvis chapel and cathedral, with Bono teasing a potential marriage later in the night. The band covered “Love Me Tender,” and the backdrop transformed into the Vegas Strip for their latest single, “Atomic City.”
The Beatles Connection
During the performance of “Desire,” Bono and The Edge incorporated a snippet of The Beatles’ “Love Me Do” and revealed a surprise guest: Paul McCartney. Bono humorously acknowledged McCartney’s influence on U2’s music, quipping, “Just know that we love you and we’ve stolen a lot of your songs.”
