Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG), the US company behind a proposed Las Vegas-style “Sphere” venue in east London, has withdrawn its plans. The company stated that it could not continue to participate in a process that was being used as a political tool by rival parties. In December, Housing Secretary Michael Gove reviewed the rejection of planning permission by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Mr Khan had stated that MSG needed to “play by the rules”. MSG had intended to build its 21,000-capacity Sphere venue in Stratford, but the plans were rejected by the mayor. In a letter to the Planning Inspectorate, MSG expressed disappointment that Londoners would not benefit from the groundbreaking technology and job opportunities that the Sphere would have provided. The company had spent millions acquiring the site and engaging in a five-year planning process with various governmental bodies. MSG’s sister firm, Sphere Entertainment, stated that it remained committed to working with cities that were serious about bringing the project to their communities.
Not for human consumption
