A new venue is elevating FIFA World Cup watch parties and uplifting downtown San Jose economically.
The Domes, located at 171 Post St. near San Pedro Square, will showcase the U.S. men’s national soccer team watch party and other sporting events. In addition, the immersive entertainment venue with space for 300 people, can host concerts, dance parties, art installations and corporate events.
The location opened Wednesday and brings 360-degree video experiences within a 60-foot geodesic dome with 8K wraparound projection and spatial sound. Two additional domes, which are slated to be completed by the fall, are planned at the same location to create a dome park.
Chris Lawes, founder and CEO of The Domes, said it’s a place for people to come together and be uplifted and inspired. He started the company in San Jose 11 years ago. This is his first city dome, although he’s created about 50 specialized domes worldwide.
“It’s meant to be something that the entire city can use for everything — sports, art, community engagement and education,” he told San José Spotlight. “We’re going to connect the whole world with communal sports and art and bring the world together to make it a smaller place where there’s more love and harmony in society.”
Lawes said San Jose is the ideal location for The Domes as the cradle of technological innovation, entrepreneurship and multiculturalism. He’s excited to launch it in San Jose simultaneously with the U.S. men’s soccer team playing in the World Cup.
“This is very exciting to be here at this moment,” he said. “We’ll be watching the games later on today and rooting for Team USA and having all the local fans here in town to cheer along with us here at The Domes. We want this to be owned and loved by this city and this community, and utilized by the local residents, and the local businesses and nonprofits as a place to amplify great messages and to put great content out into the world.”
District 3 Councilmember Anthony Tordillos, who represents downtown, said redevelopment and activation of the site is exactly the kind of creative approach needed.
“This is the sort of event infrastructure that we’re going to need to invest more of in our community,” he said. “It is so fitting that this venue is opening in the midst of our most sports-oriented event-heavy year in our city’s history, right in the heart of an incredible series of FIFA World Cup games.”
Harbir Kaur Bhatia, CEO and president of the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and Innovation, said the venue will provide enriched experiences for local and international visitors alike.
“It will give more people reasons to feel excited and have pride in being a part of Silicon Valley,” Bhatia said.
Mayor Matt Mahan said there’s no better time to open The Domes.
“(The World Cup is) a great thing for our small businesses, our restaurants, bars, hotels,” he told San José Spotlight. “We are investing in a downtown experience that is fun, safe, diverse, combines sports, entertainment, cultural experiences and this 360-degree viewing experience. It’s another reason to come downtown.”
Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected].
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