黑洞社区

Sir Robert McAlpine and McLaren are battling it out for the chance to build entertainment giant Madison Square Garden Company鈥檚 first venue outside its US home in east London.

Last week the company, whose portfolio of venues include New York鈥檚 Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall and which owns the New York Knicks basketball team, submitted plans for a 90m high complex called the Sphere at a former coach park in Stratford.

黑洞社区 understands McAlpine and McLaren are the only two firms left in the running for the job which is believed to carry a pricetag north of 拢200m.

McAlpine had been considered favourite for the work after completing the 拢131m O2 Arena scheme for Anschutz Entertainment more than a decade ago.

But project sources have told 黑洞社区 that its smaller rival is the new favourite for the deal. 鈥淢cLaren is in pole position, that鈥檚 what the subbies are saying.鈥�

The scheme has been designed by O2 architect Populous and will be wrapped in triangular LED panels which will show a range of static and moving images including digital art, promotional material for the venue itself 鈥� which will have a capacity between 17,500 and 21,500 鈥� as well as adverts.

The site runs across nearly 3ha and was last used as a coach park during the 2012 Olympic Games. It is next door to an energy centre operated by Engie which will be used to provide the venue鈥檚 heating and cooling.

In a covering letter sent to planning authority London Legacy Development Corporation, MSG, which has made the application under subsidiary firm Stratford Garden Development, said: 鈥淢SG Sphere will be a state-of-the-art live music and entertainment venue in Stratford, offering the best live music experience in the world, outside the US.鈥�

Among the technologies being promised by MSG are the largest and highest resolution LED screen in the world, an adaptive acoustics system to deliver crystal-clear audio to every guest, a haptic flooring system that will convey bass through the floor so that the audience can 鈥渇eel鈥� the experience and wireless connectivity that delivers 25 megabits per second for every guest to give greater interaction among fans.

Another source said: 鈥淲hoever gets it, it鈥檚 a tough bespoke job. Good luck to them.鈥�

Jayne McGivern, MSG鈥檚 Executive Vice President of Development and Construction, who was a former boss of Multiplex鈥檚 Europe operations back in the mid-2000s and currently sits on Skanska鈥檚 global board, said: 鈥淚f our plans are approved, we believe MSG Sphere will complement London鈥檚 existing venues and drive overall growth in the music and entertainment market.鈥�

MSG said the 20,000-capacity O2 and the 12,500-capacity Wembley Arena were the only two venues in London capable of hosting bands that embark on world and European tours.

A smaller 1,500 capacity venue is also planned at the Sphere site along with restaurant and retail space. The scheme will include building new bridges over neighbouring railway lines.

Others working on the scheme include planning consultant DP9, M&E engineer Me, acoustic engineer Arup and cost consultant RLB.