Sphere & NHL Reveal New Details On Custom Content Created By Sphere Studios Exclusively For The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft

Sphere Entertainment and the NHL reveal new details about the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Sphere, including that for the first time ever, key moments from the Draft will be broadcast live on the Exosphere – providing a real-time look at the action taking place inside the venue on the LED exterior. Separate from the original content the Company creates for The Sphere Experience, the NHL Draft marks the venue’s first live event in which Sphere Studios – the immersive content studio dedicated to creating multi-sensory live entertainment experiences exclusively for Sphere – led the design and creation of content for both the interior display plane and the Exosphere.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 12: A general preview of the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft is shown at The Sphere on June 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI)

“Sphere is powered by cutting-edge technologies to create immersive experiences across a wide range of event categories,” says Jennifer Koester, President and Chief Operating Officer, Sphere. “The Sphere Studios team is focused on pushing the boundaries of technology and creativity to strategically enhance what we can offer to partners such as the NHL Draft in how they utilize Sphere’s interior and exterior – demonstrating the breadth of our capabilities as we continue to redefine the future of live entertainment.”

“Working with the NHL to host the venue’s first-ever live broadcast event for a major sports league is an important milestone in Sphere’s inaugural year,” says Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President, Marquee Events and Operations for MSG Entertainment, who oversees marquee events for Sphere. “We look forward to creating an unforgettable Draft experience with the NHL for everyone watching in Las Vegas and around the world via the incredible content that will be displayed both inside the venue and on the Exosphere.”

“We’ve set out to create the most amazing introduction to the NHL for these young players and their families in the most innovative venue in the world,” says Steve Mayer, NHL Chief Content Officer and Senior Executive Vice President. “This will be the first sporting event broadcast live from Sphere, and we are thrilled to be working with Sphere Studios and so many other innovative companies and talented individuals to make it a success.”

The 2024 NHL Draft will mark several firsts for Sphere including:

• The first live televised event from inside Sphere, and the first time content on the interior display plane will be optimized both for the fans in the venue, and the viewing audience at home
• Separate from the original content the Company creates for The Sphere Experience, the NHL Draft marks the venue’s first live event in which Sphere Studios led the design and creation of content for both the interior display plane and the Exosphere
• The first time the events happening live inside the venue will be incorporated into real-time content to be displayed on the Exosphere

The team at Sphere Studios has been working closely with the NHL to create custom content for both Sphere’s fully immersive interior display plane – the world’s highest resolution LED screen – and the exterior of the venue – the world’s largest LED screen. As the first event televised live from Sphere, the Sphere Studios team has optimized the custom content displayed on the interior display plane for the television audience, as well as fans in the venue. This content includes custom graphics for all 32 NHL teams, key statistical highlights and notable former picks for each club, and an immersive Draft selection board while each team is on the clock.

In another first for Sphere, footage from the live television broadcast will be incorporated into custom graphics and displayed on the Exosphere throughout the event. These Exosphere moments, specific to Round 1 on Friday, June 28, will mark a new level of engagement for fans on the ground in Las Vegas and around the world via the live television broadcast.