Metallica: Life Burns Faster at Sphere

Metallica doesn’t play at the front of the room, as most Sphere acts do. Their stage is a ring in the middle of the floor, built around the Snake Pit, where fans stand with the band all around them, and Lars Ulrich’s three drum kits rise in different spots, so there’s no single front. The screen does the rest: during the first song, it shows a live image of the room, and you watch the crowd watching the show.

Good to know

Shows are listed at 8:30 PM, and doors open 90 minutes before. On opening night the band came on at about 8:45 PM; Ticketmaster says they usually start between 8:50 and 9:20 PM.

Ticketmaster sells single nights and two-night No Repeat Weekend tickets.

Sphere sets no minimum age but strongly suggests that guests under 18 come with a parent or guardian. Everyone 2 and older needs a ticket; children under 2 sit on a lap. Tickets are mobile only, so add them to your phone’s wallet before you go.

Sphere is a “no bag” venue: small clutches, purses and fanny packs up to about 6 by 6 by 2 inches are fine, as are diaper and medical bags, but backpacks and large bags aren’t. Keep your phone’s flash off; video cameras, selfie sticks and professional cameras aren’t allowed.

Expect flashing lights, loud sound, fog and seats that vibrate. Sphere asks guests who are pregnant or have a medical condition to check with a doctor first.

Where to sit

The band plays in the middle of the floor, but every seat faces the screen, so the usual Sphere advice holds. For the full show, pick the 200 or 300 level near the center: from section 305, the screen fills almost all of your view. The floor and the Snake Pit put you next to the band, with most of the screen above and behind you. Avoid the back rows of the 100 level, around row 24 and up, where the 200 level hangs over and cuts off the top of the screen. The 300 and 400 levels are steep, and some of the visuals feel like motion, more so the higher you sit.