U2 at the Sphere in Las Vegas

First, it was mind-blowing. Second, it was very accessible!

Booking
We originally booked WC accessible seats in the 100’s section, which is close to the stage and centered. Then we realized the overhang from the balcony would stop us from seeing the full sphere above, so we changed to the WC seats in the 200 section (209 on the right side) which are still close enough but a MUCH better view of the whole sphere. It looked like there were similar seats on the opposite side. It was a great place to be. The hotel room came as a package with the tickets, and there is a bridge from the Venetian to the Sphere.

Hotel (The Venetian)

We got a sphere ticket package with a standard suite at the Venetian Hotel. I did not opt for an accessible room because the regular one was big enough and has a bath and sometimes hotels take away the bath if it’s accessible. The accessible room was right next by us though. The room did have two stairs going down to the couch/chairs/tv area by the window. This was fine for me since I can do that level of distance walking, but I’m sure the accessible room must have been flat.

AVOIDING THE SMOKE. Many of us have issues with smoke and chemicals (they use heavy carcinogenic perfumes to “freshen” the smokey air in casinos that are as bad as the smoke). So I, and probably some of you need to avoid casinos at all costs. After we checked in at the desk, instead of going through the casino to the guest elevators, we took the elevator to the right of the check in desk up to level 10, where there is a bridge to the guest elevators. Then we went up to our floor without difficulty.

The room itself was nice and spacious. I honestly had room to take the chair into the bathroom in the regular non ada room. Note: only touch the food laid out or in the fridge if you definitely want it because you are automatically billed for it- there are sensors.

* make sure to always carry a room key- they control access into the guest elevator areas with key-swiping.

Food at the Veniatian
Also on level 10 is Bouchon Bistro, which is excellent French Bistro fare for brunch or dinner done by Thomas Keller, famous for “French Laundry” in Sonoma and modeled after his Bistro there. The gender neutral/handicapped bathroom next to it is spacious and easy to use. Reservations recommended. The pastries are wonderful (we took some to go).

There is a Restaurant by the Pool as well. We had a very nice breakfast there. They open at 8AM. There are a couple other restaurants we didn’t try in the hotel itself, and many lower-cost options in the food court of the canal shops.

Canal Shops
There is a giant mall inside the hotel that mimics being in a Vegas version of Venice (canals, gondolas with singing pole-pushing drivers, bridge, etc. The bridge has a wheelchair ramp. Most of the shops have room to get a wheelchair through, but not all. The Gelato at the stands is really good and very much like actual Italian gelato. There is a fake St. Marks Square where they have performers in costumes or playing instruments. You can get to this without going through the casino by just going down the guest elevators.

Getting to the Sphere without going through a Casino
Go down to the Canal shops. Get to Saint Mark’s Square. There you will see a sign for the convention center (or get directions to it from St. Marks from someone on the ground). There is an elevator down to the correct level, and then if you are at the sphere for a concert, traffic will be obvious. Find a person directing traffic and ask them where to go. They took us apart from the crowd and escorted a number of chairs at a time. If they start to take you through a casino on way there or back, explain to one of the traffic directors or guards that you can’t for health reasons and they should escort you the correct way (this happened on our way back because there was a convention in the center and they routed most people through the casino).

When you get to the bridge there is a moving walkway to avoid on the right side. Stay kind in the middle and you will get to the 200’s section entrance. It is a LOT of people crowding all around you and if sensory overload is a danger for you it may be too much (but then so might the sphere performance so only go if you can handle it).

You cannot bring large bags in– so if you have a bag attached to your wheelchair with anything but medical devices leave it in the room. You get scanned and go through.

Seats
We got three seats in the WC (wheelchair) section. There were chairs for my husband and daughter and a space for me. The view was fantastic and there was plenty of space for me to recline and maneuver in and out. There were two people in scooters who also had plenty of space to park their scooters and sit in the chairs. During the show people did move in to stand behind us. It was ok, not too many, but if it had gotten crowded and I could get out fine I would have said something to the usher.

Food and Restrooms
There was food and a bar just to the right of our 209 section entrance. Farther right was bathrooms, including a separate large handicapped/gender neutral one next to the ladies room.. The food was fine- hotdogs and hamburgers, but decent ones.

The Experience
Was mind-blowing. U2’s concert was incredible and they used the Sphere as a venue to the hilt. They started with it looking like a concrete dome, then they did the illusion of breaking the dome with the power of music. They made it look like thee billboards that were in a box. They made it look like a cube, they made it “transparent” and then they had a video of Vegas slowly being un-built until it was just desert an you felt like you were at an outdoor concert. They had a giant balloon with a string hanging from the sky that a woman from the audience was invited to sit and swing in. The way they used it was magic.

I’m glad I’ve been doing so well on the sensory overload front or I would have been overwhelmed- though the crowds getting in and especially out might have been the worst in that regard.

It was amazing.