It took a year to finally break my self-imposed exile and experience the Sphere, which has deservedly become Las Vegas' most talked-about attraction. I intentionally picked the phrase "experience the Sphere” rather than merely seeing it or stepping inside it because visiting is -- an astonishing experience. It is meant to be experienced.

Last Saturday night, Mrs. Dalla and I experienced the interior of Sphere for the first time. From the outside and even afar, Las Vegas locals and millions of visitors have already delighted in the panoply of joyful light dances swirling around this wondrous ball-shaped concert mega-venue. Even from miles away, given its prominence in the epicenter of The Strip, we're continuously amused by a mesmerizing high-tech video light show which emits creative and colorful imagery 24/7. The dazzling displays and occasional promotion are often connected to whatever's happening in town at the moment – be it football games, auto races, iconic rock bands in residence, or even the casual holiday. Night and day, the circular screen morphs from one display into another. Look up one moment and you might see a massive yellow PacMan, or a pumpkin, or a basketball, or the spinning earth, or a giant Christmas ornament. It’s a gigantic 8-ball bursting with surprises, and a welcome throwback to a golden bygone era of the Las Vegas entertainment scene when fun was still free. Yet, it’s also our dynamic journey into what the future holds. Gawking at the Sphere, we never know what's coming next.

Saturday's concert performance was a near flawless mix of past, present, and future, featuring Dead & Company, also known as the modern reincarnate of the legendary Grateful Dead (currently featuring John Mayer). Lucky us. We were gifted some of the best seats in the house -- Section 107, lower esplanade, center stage, 21 rows up. The perfect location. Yet, as an aside, I'm not sure having great seats really mattered that much since -- from what I could tell -- every seat is immensely satisfying. Indeed, the old cliche fits; There's not a bad seat in the house.

At first thought, Dead & Company playing inside the Sphere seems like a bad fit, perhaps even a betrayal of the counterculture cloak worn by the Grateful Dead since their beginnings in 1965 . Now well into seven decades of live performances, Dead concerts have always been known for their spontaneity and authenticity. Real instruments. Human voices. Nothing’s recorded in advance. Auto-Tune, pitch correction, lasers, and stage gimmicks are verboten. Yet, they’re performing inside the ultimate musical spaceship. Music isn’t merely to be heard, but also seen, and experienced. Somehow this clash of contradictions works. Call it balance. In fact, the Dead’s mellow style and laid back stage vibe makes for an optimal counterweight to the glitzy sensory overload encircling the entire venue.

Here’s a short video I took of the opening of the show (posted on Facebook): CLICK HERE

What follows are several thoughts geared towards the practical aspects of visiting Sphere in Las Vegas, along with a few impressions of the Dead & Company show and performance:

Truckin’ (to and from the Sphere)

Getting to and from the show can be a hassle. Of course, parking for any arena with 17,600 seats on a busy weekend night near the center-Strip is bound to be a nightmare. Valet parking is one option, but that costs a fortune. On-site parking is available next door, but – thinking ahead – we decided against waiting perhaps an hour to snake out of a packed lot once the concert ended. Rideshare is perhaps the best way to get to and from the Sphere, though wait times during peak periods can be ridiculous--and good luck getting an Uber or Lyft during peak times on The Strip, and even then you'll likely end up sitting in snarls of traffic parked for at least another half hour when leaving.

Pro Tip: If you don't mind the 10-minute walk, park across the street and down the block at the Wynn. The parking fee there is $20 per day, with the first four hours free. That means, it's possible to pay nothing assuming you can make it to the show and back within the time frame. Another option is parking underneath the Fashion Show Mall, eating dinner there beforehand (here’s my recommendation), then walking about 15-minutes each way to the show. That option is free, though be warned–the mall parking garage closes at 11 pm.

Eyes of the World (are watching)

The Sphere's vast layout is expected to be both confusing and intimidating (especially to first-time guests), except for the fact signage is plentiful and helpful staff at nearly every turn serve as terrific guideposts. Having attended hundreds of concerts and sporting events all over the country, this was probably the best organized streamlining of crowds I can remember. We arrived 30 minutes prior to showtime. What? No line? Are we in the right place? Despite a sell-out performance, access was easy. While electronic ticketing is still new to many people, especially an older crowd, this ended up being far easier than boarding an airplane. Other big venues here in Las Vegas often get clogged with long lines, slowed down by ticketing mix ups, invasive security screening, and are short-staffed way too often (MGM Grand Garden Arena is the worst!). Our experience at the Sphere was completely the opposite. We entered straight in, had our ticket codes scanned, were given a quick security wand pass, and were in our seats within only a few minutes after arriving. Staff were exceedingly friendly and helpful, likely the result of being super well-trained.
Pro Tip: Ask anyone in uniform for help. They’re terrific.

Shakedown Street (at the Concession Stand)

A beer costs $19. Nineteen bucks! And, that's a domestic! Imports are $21. Need I say more? I'll skip the obligatory rant, acknowledging that Sphere ownership has some serious bills to pay (and more than a billion in debt). That money has to come from someplace. However, after getting hit by the shakedown of nosebleed ticket prices, getting whacked for $20 beers does seem excessive. Yeah, this is the new Las Vegas -- where even taking a breath costs money. Oh, and VIP seating sections have cocktail service, so adding tax and tip, that same beer is going to cost $25 if you order from your seat. On the bright side, the restrooms are clean.
Pro Tip: Drink before, and/or afterward. As for food, does anyone really come to the Sphere to eat? Plan ahead. Skip the concessions. They’re a total shake down.

Hell in a Bucket

Man, the seats really suck. Bad. Most luxury indoor concert venues have cushioned seats. Not the Sphere. Given how stellar everything else is connected to this first-class performance center, one might expect more comfortable seating. But this was akin to an outdoor football stadium. Hard plastic chairs. Folding upright. Not much room for passersby. Of course, many live concerts now require mandatory standing throughout, from start to finish. Yet, given that a typical Dead show runs about 3 hours (sometimes much longer), sitting down should be a viable option for guests. Unfortunately, it's probably more comfortable to stand up than to sit, and maybe that's the whole point. Also, the chairs (or at least our row) seemed to be on a spring, so there’s a sway effect. When someone on the row sits down or moves, the entire rest of the row feels it. You may end up swaying and dancing, whether you’re into that, or not.
Pro-Tip: There is no pro tip here. Be prepared for discomfort. Fortunately, the Dead & Company audience isn't the type of crowd that fights over an armrest. In fact, the bearded guy in the Tie Dye t-shirt is very likely to insist that you occupy the coveted space.

Fire on the Mountain

The visual spectacle of the Sphere is one of those rare "wow" moments in life. Only a few special remembrances have actually given me physical chills. I'm talking about your mouth opening up involuntarily, then gasping breathlessly -- and yet speechless so as not to interrupt the majesty. The only comparative visual I can think of that matches the Sphere's giant screen (for me) was visiting the Grand Canyon for the first time. Yeah, it's that impressive. Someone told me this is like an IMAX theater on steroids. That description pretty much nails it.
Pro Tip: I'm eager to see other performances and shows, and see if those displays equal what I saw at the Dead show. I can't comment, and will defer to reviews posted elsewhere on this question.

Here’s a video from YouTube which doesn’t do justice to the visual spectacle, but you’ll get the picture:
Check out this week's episode here:

Setlist

Dead & Company played for nearly four hours. The April 26, 2025 show was divided into two sets, halved by a 25-minute intermission. Remarkably, despite a performance that delivered and even exceeded expectations, only 16 songs were featured on this night, including two Bob Dylan covers. However, in the Dead's characteristic freewheelin' style, many songs wandered far beyond the 10-minute range. This isn't a complaint, by the way. It's a compliment. It's fascinating to comprehend how Dead & Company, so adept at carefree musical unpredictability, somehow manages to synchronize the music to the stern demands of theatrics appearing on the giant screen behind them and overhead. This choreography of sight with sounds is masterful. Here's the setlist:

SET 1:

Tangled Up in Blue
(Bob Dylan cover) (Live debut by D&C)

Shakedown Street
(Grateful Dead cover)

Scarlet Begonias
(Grateful Dead cover)

Fire on the Mountain
(Grateful Dead cover)

The Wheel
(Jerry Garcia cover)

One More Saturday Night
(Bob Weir song)

SET 2:

Here Comes Sunshine
(Grateful Dead cover)

Estimated Prophet
(Grateful Dead cover)

Eyes of the World
(Grateful Dead cover)

Terrapin Station
(Grateful Dead cover)

Drums
(Grateful Dead cover)

Space
(Grateful Dead cover)

Looks Like Rain
(Bob Weir song)

Cold Rain and Snow
([traditional] cover)

Knockin' on Heaven's Door
(Bob Dylan cover)

Old News Broadcast of the Grateful Dead

Not Fade Away
(The Crickets cover)

Note: I purposely did not take many photos or shoot long videos, which is frankly something I find annoying about attending live music shows nowadays. Instead, I chose to enjoy my time and not pretend to be an amatuer videographer, as countless other people always seem compelled to do by holding up their smartphones for long stretches at a time. If you want to see particular segments of this show, or any show at Sphere, there are plenty of videos posted online by fans. However, I prefer to be surprised by my experience, rather than knowing and expecting what's to come. But hey, that's just me.

Double Hat Tip: Special thanks to Doug Grismore (via Dan Goldman) for gifting us concert tickets.