Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan recently weighed in on the possibility of the band performing a residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Corgan acknowledged the scale of what a Sphere performance demands, while expressing confidence in what the Pumpkins could bring to the iconic venue — if the numbers work out.
“I’m really impressed by anybody who can play the Sphere because it’s a heavy lift. It’s a production thing, and you really have to draw a lot of people,” Corgan said. “So number one, I’m not sure we’re big enough to draw enough people over time to do it — but if somebody came and said, ‘Yeah, we believe you can do it,’ I think the Pumpkins could put on a show that nobody else would put on, because of the theatrical nature of the records and the presentation. And with that level of production, it would be like a goth winter in there, and I think we’re probably the only band that could pull that off at that level.”
Corgan also pointed to the expansion of the Sphere concept to other cities as a potential game-changer for which acts get the opportunity to perform there.
“They’re trying to build other Spheres, like in Dubai and London, and I think once that gets online, then I think you’re gonna see the system loosen up of who can play because you’re gonna be able to travel,” he continued. “Right now, you need bands that are big enough to draw multiple, multiple dates to make that whole thing work.”
He closed with a note of admiration for those who have already taken on the challenge. “I’m telling you, mad respect to anybody who’s pulled it off, including Phish,” Corgan added.
No official announcement regarding a Smashing Pumpkins Sphere residency has been made at this time.
To understand why Corgan is cautious, the numbers behind the Sphere tell the story clearly. The venue cost $2.3 billion to build, making it the most expensive entertainment venue in Las Vegas history. With a seating capacity of approximately 17,600, the financial pressure on any act to fill those seats — repeatedly — is immense.
That pressure has not stopped the Sphere from becoming a commercial juggernaut. In 2024, the venue grossed $420.5 million from 1.3 million tickets sold. It ranked as the top-grossing venue of any size on the planet for the entire year — the highest annual gross of any venue in Billboard Boxscore history.
The bar set by acts who have already played the Sphere is high. Kenny Chesney’s residency utilized the venue’s 16K resolution wraparound screen, spatial audio system, and haptic seating across multiple dates. It delivered a technologically immersive experience that redefined what a live concert could look like. Tickets for that run ranged from $150 to over $800.
On the expansion front, Sphere Entertainment is actively developing new locations in Dubai and London. Corgan sees this as the key to unlocking the venue for mid-tier touring acts. A smaller-scale Sphere is also in development in Maryland, at roughly 6,000 seats — about one-third the capacity of the Las Vegas original. The company appears to be exploring ways to make the concept accessible to a broader range of artists.
The Sphere’s upcoming slate also hints at the theatrical ambitions Corgan referenced. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is set to arrive at the Las Vegas Sphere in 2027. It will join The Wizard of Oz and Darren Aronofsky’s Postcard From Earth as immersive Sphere Experiences. This programming direction aligns closely with the kind of dark, theatrical spectacle Corgan envisions for a potential Pumpkins residency.
