The Prince George’s County Council has advanced legislation supporting the proposed Sphere at National Harbor, with a final vote scheduled for October 27.
The Council voted Monday to advance CB-111-2026 after adopting two amendments that add labor and community benefit requirements tied to the project’s bond financing.
One amendment would require the developer to enter into a Community Benefits Agreement with Prince George’s County. The agreement is expected to address areas including local hiring, participation by County-based minority and small businesses, workforce development and job training, youth and education programs, and oversight of the commitments.
A second amendment would require a labor peace agreement covering developers, tenants, contractors and subcontractors, as applicable.
The proposed Sphere at National Harbor was announced in January by Sphere Entertainment, the State of Maryland, Prince George’s County and Peterson Companies. If approved, it would become the second Sphere location in the United States and the first to use the company’s smaller-scale venue design.
Plans call for an approximately 6,000-seat venue featuring the Exosphere exterior LED display, a 16K x 16K interior LED screen, immersive sound, haptic seating and 4D environmental effects. Programming would include concerts, original Sphere Experiences and branded events.
The project is expected to support approximately 2,500 construction jobs and an estimated 4,750 jobs once operational. Officials have projected more than $1 billion in annual economic impact.
The project would be supported through a combination of public and private funding, including approximately $200 million in state, local and private incentives.
Construction, financing and operation of the Sphere remain contingent on final agreements and government approvals. The amended legislation is scheduled for a final Prince George’s County Council vote on October 27.
