London mayor rejects Stratford sphere proposals

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has rejected plans for a Las Vegas-style "Sphere" entertainment venue near the Olympic park in east London. The proposed dome-shaped venue, designed by architect Populous, would have been a replica of the Madison Square Garden Sphere in Las Vegas and stood almost 100m high and 120m wide. The mayor blocked the development due to concerns about the amount of light pollution it would cause for local residents, as well as its high electricity consumption and impact on heritage sites in the area. The final decision will now be made by Communities Secretary Michael Gove. Madison Square Garden Entertainment Company expressed disappointment with the decision, but said it would focus on other cities that are eager to host such a venue.