Sphere, Allegiant Stadium, and Eagles Win Big at Annual Pollstar Awards

^{The Eagles grace the stage at the Sphere during their long-running residency that will come to an end later this year. (Photo: Sphere / X.com)} 

The entertainment venues in Las Vegas continue to take home awards from industry trade organizations. At the 37th Annual Pollstar Awards, Allegiant Stadium won "Stadium of the Year" in the United States, and Sphere won "Arena of the Year," while the Eagles took home "Residency of the Year."

While the venues won Billboard awards for generating the most revenue last year, the Pollstar Awards carry a different kind of prestige. They honor the biggest names, tours, venues, and leaders in live entertainment, and winners are chosen by industry professionals.

Both Vegas venues beat out some of the best in the country in larger markets, and the Eagles took home their award. There was fierce competition with other Las Vegas residencies, as well as the Puerto Rico residency of Bad Bunny, who performed at halftime of the Super Bowl this year.

According to Pollstar, these awards for Allegiant Stadium and Sphere are based on "superior programming, effective promotion and marketing, quality production values and staff, an exemplary experience for fans and artists, and consistent box office success."

Las Vegas has long been known as the entertainment capital of the world, but these two venues helped catapult its reputation as one of the major event capitals of the world.

Allegiant Stadium Earns Its Place Among the Country's Best

Allegiant Stadium is home to the Las Vegas Raiders and hosts major sporting events such as the Super Bowl and international soccer matches. Looking ahead, it will host the College Football Playoff championship game, the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, and another Super Bowl.

It's also where the world's most popular touring musicians perform. Before Allegiant opened in 2020, Las Vegas had no comparable venue.

The only large stadium of that size in Las Vegas was Sam Boyd Stadium, about 30 minutes from the Strip. The outdoor stadium was never a must-stop for touring bands, nor was it a destination for international tours like Coldplay last year and BTS this year.

Allegiant was up against both historic and new venues for the best stadium award in the United States:

• Fenway Park in Boston, MA
• MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
• Nissan Stadium in  Nashville, TN
• SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA
• Soldier Field in Chicago, IL

There was a time when entertainment industry awards often went to large markets because they were both influential and hosted the largest events. New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are the top three markets in the country. Boston is No. 9, and Nashville is No. 26.

That's no longer the case, as Las Vegas has become a major entertainment hub, even though it's only the 40th-largest media market in the United States.

Sphere Redefines What a Concert Venue Can Be

The Sphere is a unique arena that cost more than $2 billion to build. Business got off to a slow start but continues to reduce losses, thanks to the "Wizard of Oz" film and sold-out residencies from the Eagles to the Backstreet Boys, as it moves toward profitability.

This non-traditional arena isn't home to a sports team like many around the country. It mostly hosts multi-date music residencies at night and experiential films during the day.

"The Wizard of Oz" has sold more than 2 million tickets since opening in late 2025 and shows no signs of slowing down.  A second experiential film, "From the Edge," is reportedly in the pipeline for later this year and could be added to the Sphere's programming.

Visitors come to Las Vegas specifically for residencies at the Sphere, and the fans commit fully to the concert experience. When the Backstreet Boys visited for their residency, fans delivered by showing up in white as requested by the group.

Everything at Sphere is unique to Las Vegas, and there isn't another venue like it in the world yet. Another Sphere is being built in Abu Dhabi, and a smaller version is planned for Maryland as well.

Sphere won Pollstar's pick for best arena, defeating:

• Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN
• Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA
• Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
• Moody Center in Austin, TX
• Target Center in Minneapolis, MN

Eagles Cap Their Career With Residency of the Year

Sphere was also home to four of the six nominees for Residency of the Year, an impressive testament to how the venue has reshaped what a Las Vegas residency looks like. The Eagles ultimately took the award, as their long-running residency is scheduled to conclude later this year.

• Backstreet Boys, Sphere
• Bad Bunny, Coliseo de Puerto Rico San Juan, PR
• Dead & Company, Sphere
• Kenny Chesney, Sphere 
• New Kids on the Block, Dolby Live at Park MGM

Las Vegas residencies aren't new, but Sphere has taken the experience to a new level with audio and visuals unavailable anywhere else in the world.