International. The Sphere in Las Vegas will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the first lighting of its outdoor display called Exosphere, this July 4, with an all-new audio and content experience: the "Sphere 4th of July Celebration" presented by Verizon.
Sphere's 4th of July celebration will also mark the launch of two new features of the Exosphere experience in the future: "XO Stream" presented by Verizon, an official Exosphere live stream that will be available 24/7 on thesphere.com, and "XO Audio," custom audio synced to Exosphere content that will be audible both on the site within Sphere's property and on line through "XO Stream".
"Sphere has become a global milestone that has redefined the live experience, including Exosphere, a captivating platform for storytelling since it was first lit up on July 4. We've barely scratched the surface of what Sphere is capable of, both creatively and technologically. Now, with the addition of 'XO Audio' and 'XO Stream,' we are expanding our commitment to immersive experiences that create a deeper, multi-sensory connection, one that can be shared throughout the Las Vegas community and around the world," said Jim Dolan, CEO and CEO of Sphere Entertainment.
Prior to the 4th of July celebration, a special pre-show ceremony will honor Las Vegas student artists who participated in the Sphere XO Student Design Challenge, in which local students designed 4th of July-inspired art for the Exosphere. The eight winning students whose art was chosen to appear in the Exosphere will be recognized, and their art will debut in the Exosphere during the ceremony before continuing to be displayed throughout the summer.
As the official presenting partner of Sphere's 4th of July celebration, Verizon will be onboard with custom content on Exosphere that will air throughout the evening's programming, including during the countdown to the main show. Verizon will appear on thesphere.com as host of "XO Stream" starting July 4.
The Sphere Celebration of the 4th of July presented by Verizon will honor America in six events in the ultimate tribute to art, science and wonder, and how that unites us all. The content, which was created and developed by Sphere Studios, an immersive content studio dedicated to creating multi-sensory live entertainment experiences exclusively for Sphere, highlights America's entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, which Sphere exemplifies. The show will begin with a dynamic celebration of Sphere's architecture and its impact on the Las Vegas skyline. This will be followed by creative focused on Stars & Stripes, and will continue with a nod to the history of Nevada, also known as the "Silver State," and the Wild West.
Sphere's most captivating Exosphere content over the past year will be transformed into a dynamic montage, followed by an innovative creative piece that turns Sphere on its head and highlights the interior of the venue as a "temple of the arts." The show will close with a vibrant celebration of digital fireworks in the Exosphere. The 4th of July celebration will be presented twice on Thursday, July 4 at 9:30 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. PT.
The release of "XO Audio" will feature sound, curated exclusively by Sphere Studios, synchronized with the movement of the images in the Exosphere, beginning with the 4th of July Celebration. Audio will accompany Exosphere's creativity both on-site within Sphere's Las Vegas property and through "XO Stream," with branded art and content incorporating audio into its creativity in the future.
