Faraway, So Close! The U2 Sphere Experience from the Cheap Seats

U2 Sphere Las Vegas

The U2 Sphere Las Vegas shows are back, and I just returned from my second trip to see the band.  In some ways, I was more excited for this second show than the first.  For months, I overthought the next show’s set list, would Larry Mullen, Jr. be back? (no), crowd size, etc.  Most of all, I was curious about a U2 Sphere Las Vegas experience from the cheap seats.  Here’s how it all turned out.

Tickets

I wanted a vastly different experience at a lower price for the second show.  My siblings and I splurged on the 200 level at about $400 per ticket for the October show.  As a U2.com member, I had early access to buying tickets for the second show.  I bought two 400 level tickets, toward stage left, for $140.13 each.

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Entering from the Top

Those ticketed in the 400 sections can enter from two different levels, from the top or bottom.  Naturally, Shawn wanted to take in the entire experience, so we hopped on escalators all the way to the top.  Things get pretty steep up there.  One Sphere worker opted out of showing us to our seats, apparently because they couldn’t handle the environment.  We snaked our way all the way down to the second row of our section to our seats.

Sightlines initially appeared terrific – I didn’t want to get too excited for fear of a letdown once the show started.  Due to the angles, it was as if there was no rail at all in front of the first row.  Looking down, the 300 level of seats reached just below our seats in 400.  Shawn and I couldn’t help but think how much more expensive those high 300 seats were in comparison to ours.

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The Show

After another DJ set that was as equally identical and enjoyable as the first show, we settled in for the main event.  The view from up on high was fantastic.  As I expected, the screen view from the back was an improvement from the 200 level.  Think of the Sphere as a big movie theater.  Many, including me, prefer sitting in the back of a theater for a better perspective of a film.  My hunch was that I should use this same logic for viewing perhaps the biggest screen on the planet.   I was 100% correct.

Almost too correct.  On multiple occasions, I caught myself watching the screen more than I should.  I wasn’t looking down at the band itself enough.  Indeed, they were less human and more dot-like from the 400’s.  Regardless, the screen can overwhelm.  Perhaps U2 and the overall production team knew this.  I noticed how they varied the screen use throughout the show.  During certain songs, we were engulfed by visual eye candy.  During others, not so much.  The crowd needs a break every now and then, whether they know it or not.

As I expected, the set list was largely the same as the first show, with a few variations mostly in the middle, including Two Hearts Beat As One, Seconds, and a cover of Crowded House’s Don’t Dream It’s Over.  Another visually-stunning change was Bono holding a very large balloon – something that’s more easily seen than described.  One final, distinct change from the first show – Adam was sporting a prominent mustache.  Bono even introduced said whiskers.

U2 Sphere Las Vegas – Conclusion

Despite my love of the U2 Sphere Las Vegas shows, I actually prefer smaller concerts while watching from the back.  The Sphere is one of the few large venues where many will prefer the experience from the cheap(er) seats.  So then, have no hesitancy in paying (and maybe overpaying) for a seat in the back.  See U2 while you can, in probably the most technologically-advanced environment they’ll ever play.  I’m confident you won’t be disappointed.

Disclosure: Miles to Memories has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Miles to Memories and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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