Move over, Las Vegas.
San Jose unveiled its own pint-sized answer to the iconic Sphere on Wednesday, cutting the ribbon on The Domes — a 360-degree immersive entertainment venue that city leaders hope will become the Bay Area’s newest attraction.
The high-tech dome officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Mayor Matt Mahan, local business leaders and community officials after a soft launch in mid-June timed to ride the excitement surrounding the FIFA Club World Cup.
Visitors are surrounded by 8K projection and immersive audio designed to make everything from sporting events to concerts and art exhibits feel larger than life.
“Walk into a 360° dome wrapped in 8K projection and spatial sound — the screen is everywhere you look. Watch the Sharks on a wall the size of a building, lose yourself in a Van Gogh, or catch a live DJ under a sky you’ve never seen before,” the venue’s website says.
“It’s an immersive theater environment that can take you anywhere you want to go. So it can take you to sports, it can take you to art, it can take you to music culture,” The Domes CEO Chris Lawes told KTVU.
Mayor Mahan couldn’t resist comparing the new attraction to its famous Sin City counterpart.
“Cancel the Vegas tickets, we have the sphere at home!” he wrote on X.
The Domes has already hosted several World Cup watch parties, with another scheduled Friday for the Round of 32 showdown between Australia and Egypt.
Fans can catch a single match for $49, while an all-day pass costs $109. After 9 p.m., the venue transforms into an afterparty with music, food and drinks for $24.
Beyond sports, the dome is expected to host concerts, private events and immersive art experiences.
The venue was inspired by the world-famous Las Vegas Sphere, which hauled in $379 million in ticket sales from concerts and cinematic experiences in 2025, cementing its status as one of the Strip’s biggest attractions.
While The Domes is a far cry from the Sphere’s towering 366-foot height — measuring just 60 feet tall — locals say it still packs a punch.
“I honestly think it’s really amazing. It’s awesome what they’ve done with this parking lot and this area, and the interior of it is cool,” one resident said.
