The proposed Maryland Sphere at National Harbor is moving from concept to planning at an unusually rapid pace, with Prince George’s County officials already outlining an aggressive path to approvals and construction for what could become one of the county’s most significant economic development projects.
Planned for a site just north of MGM National Harbor, the envisioned 6,000-seat entertainment venue would serve as a smaller regional counterpart to the iconic Las Vegas Sphere developed by Sphere Entertainment Co.. If timelines hold, county leaders hope to move the project through the entitlement process by the end of this year and begin construction in late 2027.
Before that can happen, however, several major financial and legislative hurdles remain.
Incentive package still requires approvals
The project depends on Maryland lawmakers approving a special tax district, along with a coordinated $198.5 million incentive package involving Prince George’s County, the state of Maryland and the governor’s office. County officials must also create local legislation governing both development approvals and financing structures.
At this stage, there is not yet a finalized agreement between the county and Sphere Entertainment — only a development framework outlining how the deal could move forward.
Tax-increment financing plays central role
A major component of the proposed incentive package is Prince George’s County’s planned $130 million contribution through tax-increment financing, commonly known as TIF bonds.
TIF financing allows governments to borrow against future tax revenues expected from a project. In this case, officials believe the entertainment venue will generate enough new property, sales and related tax revenue over time to support repayment of those bonds.
Because TIFs rely on projected future growth, state legislative backing is considered essential to making the financing package viable.
County projects major economic upside
Despite the early stage of negotiations, Prince George’s County is forecasting substantial returns.
County estimates project the National Harbor Sphere would generate:
- $63 million in annual tax revenue
- $1.3 billion in annual economic impact for Prince George’s County by 2032
- $200 million in economic impact for the state of Maryland by 2032
Those figures come from an economic analysis conducted by consulting firm EY.
Officials see the project as a major tourism driver that could complement existing attractions at National Harbor while expanding the county’s entertainment economy.
Fast-moving timeline for major project
While local development processes often take years, county leaders are attempting to accelerate approvals.
The current roadmap calls for:
- State legislative approval of financing tools
- County legislation for development and bond structures
- Completion of entitlement reviews by year’s end
- Groundbreaking in late 2027
If realized, the project would rank among the largest economic development initiatives in Prince George’s County history.
Still early, but momentum is building
Important uncertainties remain, including legislative approval, final financing commitments and a formal agreement with Sphere Entertainment.
Even so, the county’s unusually aggressive timeline signals strong political support for bringing the high-profile entertainment venue to National Harbor.
For now, the proposed Maryland Sphere remains in the planning stage — but officials are already positioning it as a transformative project for the county’s tourism, tax base and regional economy.
Written by Three E Staff
