Lars Ulrich Responds to Speculation About Metallica Headlining Las Vegas Sphere and Super Bowl LX
via Music News Radio / YouTube
Sphere Residency Rumors
Could Metallica be the next band to take over the Las Vegas Sphere? According to drummer Lars Ulrich, it’s possible. When asked about the idea, Ulrich said there was “nothing to confirm,” but admitted the band is “such fans of this venue.” He explained that Metallica’s management and production team have already visited the Sphere to explore the possibilities, though no plans are set. If it happens, he said it would be after their 2026 tour dates.
Ulrich shared that he attended U2’s opening night at the Sphere. “… I wanted to see it for myself before I saw it on YouTube or read about it,” he said. “I was there, like everybody else that was there that night, I was completely blown away, and felt that was the beginning of another chapter in live performances.”
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Interest in the Super Bowl Halftime Show
Beyond the Sphere talk, Ulrich was asked if Metallica might play the halftime show at the Super Bowl. Super Bowl LX is set for Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Since the stadium is in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Metallica began, the possibility has drawn attention. Ulrich’s reaction was clear: “F— yeah, of course we would.”
He explained that performing what would feel like a hometown show during the Super Bowl “would be a dream come true and would be the right fit.” Although the band hasn’t been asked to do it, Ulrich said, “… Certainly as somebody who’s represented San Francisco all over the world and shouted for decades about San Francisco and our love for the Bay Area, that part of it is the right fit. Ultimately, it’s not our decision.”
Past Missed Opportunity
The idea of Metallica performing at Levi’s Stadium during a Super Bowl is not new. The last time the venue hosted the event was in 2016 for Super Bowl 50. Many fans pushed for Metallica to headline the halftime show that year. Instead, the lineup included Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, and Mark Ronson.
While Ulrich made it clear there are no confirmed deals for either the Sphere or the Super Bowl, his comments show the band’s openness to both. With their current tour running through 2026, any potential new projects would happen after that. For now, fans will have to wait to see if Metallica makes history at one of these major stages.
