Dan Gilbert’s Innovative Live Sports Video Dome Breaks Ground in Downtown Detroit

Downtown Detroit is scoring a futuristic new attraction. Imagine enjoying a Pistons or Lions game as if you had floor seats or 50-yard-line tickets – but instead, you’re in a dome in the heart of the city. That’s the vision behind Dan Gilbert’s latest development: an innovative live sports “video dome” set to rise at Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit. This immersive sports and entertainment venue, called Cosm Detroit, just broke ground and promises to bring a “front row seat” experience of live events to our city. In a town that bleeds sports and craves new things to do, this high-tech dome is generating buzz among Detroit sports fans, families, and real estate watchers alike.

Mayor Mike Duggan, Facebook

A High-Tech Sports Dome Rises in Cadillac Square

Dan Gilbert – the Detroit real estate mogul and owner of Bedrock – has teamed up with Cosm, an immersive technology company, to create a one-of-a-kind entertainment dome in downtown’s Cadillac Square. Set to anchor a new development just steps from Campus Martius Park, Cosm Detroit will feature an 85-foot (26.6 m) 12K LED dome screen that “merges the virtual and physical worlds” of live events. In simpler terms, it’s like a giant half-sphere theater where the game or show is projected all around you, making you feel like you’re actually at the live event. Construction on this “shared reality” venue begins in 2025, with Detroit being only the fourth city in the world to get one (after Los Angeles, Dallas, and soon Atlanta).

What makes this sports dome so innovative? Here are some highlights of what’s planned for Cosm Detroit:

Massive Immersive Screen: An LED screen about 85 feet across wraps above and around the audience, creating a seamless 360-degree view. This dome screen will display live sports, concerts, and other events in ultra-high definition, replicating the thrill of being there in person.
Shared Reality Technology: Cosm’s proprietary tech bridges the gap between the virtual and real. You’ll not only see the action in surround-view, but also feel the energy of the crowd. The goal is to “replicate the feeling of being at a live event” with booming spatial audio and stunning visuals.
Top Sports & Entertainment Content: Through partnerships with the NBA, NFL, UFC, ESPN, NBC/FOX Sports and more, Cosm will stream marquee live events onto the dome. From Red Wings playoff games to championship fights, if it’s a big event, there’s a good chance it could be on the dome. And it’s not just sports – expect immersive art shows and even special presentations like Cosm’s exclusive production of Cirque du Soleil’s “O”.
Dining & Hospitality: This isn’t a grab-a-beer-and-find-your-seat kind of place – it will offer an elevated experience. Plans include a multi-level market hall in the same building with sit-down and fast-casual dining options. Inside the venue, guests can enjoy gastropub-style food, craft cocktails, and a curated beer selection while taking in the action. It’s meant to be as much a social hangout as it is a high-tech viewing space.

In essence, Cosm Detroit is blending a sports bar, a live arena, and an IMAX theater into one. “Cosm is the future of sports and entertainment, putting people in the front row of the world’s biggest events,” Gilbert said of the new venue. For Detroiters, it means we’ll soon have an always-on, weather-proof hub downtown for watching big games or shows together, whether it’s the Super Bowl, a World Cup match, or a March Madness showdown.

Dan Gilbert’s Vision: Revitalizing Downtown Detroit at Cadillac Square

This ambitious project is more than just a cool place to catch a game – it’s a key part of Dan Gilbert’s vision for downtown Detroit. Gilbert’s real estate firm, Bedrock, has been leading the charge in redeveloping the city’s core for years, and the Cosm dome will be “the anchor of our development at Cadillac Square”, according to Gilbert. By planting a cutting-edge entertainment venue right in Cadillac Square (an area adjacent to the bustling Campus Martius Park and historic Paradise Valley district), Gilbert aims to create a magnet that draws people into downtown day and night.

Local Detroiters have watched as Gilbert invested in restoring landmark buildings (like the Book Tower and the Farwell Building) and building new ones (like the upcoming Hudson’s site skyscraper). With this project, he’s focusing on experiences. The idea is that a high-energy attraction like Cosm will complement downtown’s other draws – Campus Martius Park’s year-round activities, nearby theaters and stadiums, and the restaurants and shops that have been popping up – to keep downtown lively beyond the 9-to-5 work hours.

“This was a transformative technology and experience that we knew we had to bring to Detroit,” Gilbert said, noting that Cosm Detroit will serve as a “magnet to bring people to downtown to experience the energy and vibrance in our city.” Gilbert isn’t the only one excited. “Detroit embodies the right mix of sports fandom, enterprising spirit and energy,” said Jeb Terry, Cosm’s President and CEO, “and we are honored to be part of the downtown revitalization that Dan Gilbert and his team are driving.”

The placement of the dome in Cadillac Square is strategic. This spot is in the heart of downtown – just a short walk from Campus Martius Park’s fountain and lawns, and nestled near the historic Paradise Valley entertainment district. (Paradise Valley, once a thriving jazz and blues hub, has been the focus of revival efforts to celebrate Detroit’s cultural heritage.) City planners see Cosm as a new spark for this area. Bedrock’s CEO Kofi Bonner noted that Cosm Detroit will “draw thousands of enthusiasts to downtown on a regular basis” and will “amplify efforts to revive the historic Paradise Valley entertainment district.” In other words, the dome isn’t popping up in isolation – it’s part of a bigger push to bring more music, art, and nightlife back to downtown Detroit, reviving the vibe that Paradise Valley was known for.

And it’s not just about entertainment. Projects like this also signal confidence in Detroit’s future. Every new venue, restaurant, or retail space that opens in the city core adds another reason for people to spend time (and money) downtown. Gilbert’s Cadillac Square development will even include that new market hall with a variety of dining spots – a welcome addition for downtown residents and workers looking for more food options. It’s easy to see how an exciting project like the Cosm dome, combined with other downtown improvements, contributes to making downtown Detroit an increasingly exciting place to live and invest in.

A Game-Changer for Detroit Sports Fans and Entertainment Lovers

For Detroit sports fans, Cosm Detroit could be a dream come true. Think about the biggest game of the year – maybe the Tigers in a World Series, or Michigan in the college football playoffs – and imagine watching it unfold on a towering wraparound screen with hundreds of fellow fans cheering alongside you. Where a typical sports bar offers a few big TVs, this dome offers a 360-degree “shared reality” arena that puts you in the middle of the action. The new venue aims to make watching a game an immersive, communal experience unlike anything else in town.

Fans gather inside Cosm’s Los Angeles venue to watch a baseball game on the massive curved LED screen above them. A similar experience is coming for Detroit sports fans. Instead of just seeing the game on a flat screen, you’ll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of the event. The 12K visuals can virtually transport you to Ford Field, Little Caesars Arena, or any legendary stadium around the world – all while you’re hanging out in downtown Detroit. And because it’s a shared space, you get that electric atmosphere of a crowd cheering, gasping, and high-fiving together. It’s the kind of energy you can’t get from your couch at home.

What can you watch under the dome? The lineup is expected to be diverse and year-round. Live sports will be the headliner, for sure – Cosm has partnerships to show NBA basketball, UFC fights, European soccer matches, NFL games and more. That means whether it’s a Saturday night boxing match or March Madness, the big game might be playing at Cosm in an immersive format. But beyond sports, entertainment in Detroit is getting a boost here too. The dome can showcase concerts, film events, and special presentations. One example already announced is an immersive showing of Cirque du Soleil’s “O,” adapted from the famous Las Vegas aquatic show. Cosm’s creative team is also planning digital art displays that could captivate kids and adults alike. In a way, the venue could double as a high-tech art dome or even an educational experience (imagine immersive science documentaries or music events in the future).

For local sports teams, this could also become an unofficial gathering spot. If our Detroit Lions make the playoffs on the road, picture a huge watch party where the dome makes it feel like Ford Field. Or consider Detroit’s big sports holidays – opening day for the Tigers, for instance – where overflow crowds could celebrate together at the dome when the team is playing an away game. Detroiters love their teams, and this gives fans one more place to unite and celebrate that passion downtown.

Mayor Mike Duggan, Facebook

Family-Friendly Fun and New Things to Do in Detroit

One of the best parts about the growing downtown is that it’s becoming a place not just for work or nightlife, but for families too. Metro Detroit parents are always looking for fun things to do in Detroit with their kids, and the Cosm dome could be a great addition to that list. While sports are a big draw, the variety of programming – including those immersive art and nature shows – means there will likely be family-friendly events that capture the imaginations of all ages. Think of it like taking your kids to a high-tech planetarium or an interactive movie theater experience. Instead of just watching a nature documentary about the ocean, you might feel like you’re underwater, or floating in space, or center court at a basketball game.

Downtown already has attractions families enjoy: the Campus Martius Park square, for example, turns into a skating rink in winter and a splash pad in summer, and it’s surrounded by food trucks and music. Now add Cosm into the mix a block away – you could spend an afternoon downtown with the family, grab some Detroit-style pizza or coney dogs at the new market hall, play in Campus Martius, and then catch a special dome show in the evening. It’s a new option for weekend fun that doesn’t require a long drive to a suburban theater or museum. Plus, being in the city gives kids a sense of Detroit’s history and revival; they get to see the big buildings, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, and feel the city’s energy.

For those of us who remember quieter times downtown, this transformation is welcome. A decade ago, you wouldn’t have imagined families flocking to Cadillac Square for entertainment. Now, thanks to efforts by local visionaries like Gilbert, downtown Detroit is blossoming into a 24/7 community. There are more things to do in Detroit than ever before – from riverfront parks and the RiverWalk, to Eastern Market festivals, to concerts at Little Caesars Arena – and with the Cosm dome, we’re adding an entirely new attraction that’s uniquely Detroit. It’s high-tech but also has that community vibe we value, where you can strike up a conversation with the people at the next table about the game or the show you just experienced together.

Downtown Detroit: A Thriving Place to Live and Invest

All this excitement isn’t just great for having fun – it’s also a big positive for Detroit real estate. When downtown Detroit becomes a place where you can watch a Lions game on a giant dome screen, dine at a trendy food hall, and walk home to your apartment in a matter of blocks, it’s going to naturally attract more residents. The city’s core has seen a steady increase in new apartments, lofts, and condos, and developments like the Cadillac Square project reinforce the appeal of living in the heart of the action. As a Metro Detroit real estate expert might tell you, amenities and entertainment are huge drivers for property values. Every new cafe, park, or in this case, immersive dome, adds to the neighborhood feel and convenience that urban homebuyers and renters look for.

Downtown Detroit is becoming a place where people want to be, not just from 9 to 5 on weekdays, but all the time. Young professionals are renting lofts in historic buildings; empty-nesters are downsizing to condos with a skyline view; even some families are choosing downtown for the unique lifestyle. Why? Because there’s always something to do. The addition of Cosm’s venue is another signal that downtown is on the rise. It shows confidence – investors putting money into a cutting-edge attraction here means they believe the crowds will be here, too.

City officials and business leaders often talk about creating a “24/7 downtown” – a city center that’s alive with activity day and night. We’re getting closer to that reality. In recent years, we’ve seen new parks, the QLine streetcar, sporting events drawing thousands, and big projects like Gilbert’s Hudson’s site tower reshaping the skyline. Now, a high-tech entertainment dome is joining the mix. These pieces together create a virtuous cycle: more attractions lead to more visitors and residents, which then leads to more businesses opening to serve them, which again leads to a more vibrant community. It’s no wonder many are saying downtown Detroit is an increasingly exciting place to live and invest in – because the evidence is all around us.

For anyone considering investing in Detroit real estate, projects like the Cosm dome are proof of the momentum. It’s not just about one building; it’s about the ecosystem of development. The Cadillac Square area will have the dome and a food hall, and that’s next to Campus Martius (which is surrounded by office workers and tourists), and near Gilbert’s other projects in Paradise Valley and Greektown. All of this connectivity boosts foot traffic and the desirability of nearby properties. From an investor’s perspective, downtown’s trajectory looks promising. And from a local’s perspective, it just feels good to see our city shining.

Excitement Builds – See You at the Dome!

It’s not every day that Detroit gets to say it’s home to something world-first or world-fourth in this case – but with Cosm’s immersive dome, we’re joining a select club of cities pushing the envelope of entertainment. The groundbreaking is just the start. As construction moves forward in the coming months, don’t be surprised if you hear Detroiters chatting about “that sports dome” or making plans for what they’ll watch first when it opens. The anticipation is half the fun, and it’s a testament to how far downtown has come that we’re even talking about such an attraction.

So here’s our friendly challenge to you: come be a part of Detroit’s revival. Take a stroll through Campus Martius Park, wander over to Cadillac Square, and see what’s changing. There’s a palpable energy downtown – from the skaters on the rink in winter to office workers lunching outside in summer, to fans spilling out of Comerica Park after a Tigers win. Now imagine that energy amplified by a futuristic dome where every night could offer something new, whether it’s a big game or an immersive show. It’s the kind of thing that makes even skeptical locals say, “Hey, I want to check that out.”

Downtown Detroit truly has something for everyone these days, and it’s only getting better. If you’ve been staying on the sidelines, consider this your invitation: come explore the area, enjoy the new attractions, and even think about investing your time or resources here – maybe that means renting an apartment downtown, opening a business, or simply supporting local venues. And when Cosm Detroit’s live sports video dome finally opens its doors, grab your friends, your kids, or your neighbors and go experience it for yourself. Whether you’re cheering on the Lions with a crowd of new friends or marveling at a 360° art show, you’ll be part of a new chapter in Detroit’s story. The dome will be waiting – see you there on opening night!