FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2026
Contact: victoria@mintwood.pro
Prince George’s County, MD – Residents of Prince George’s County are not sold on giving a billionaire’s company a $215 million taxpayer subsidy to build a Las Vegas-style Sphere at National Harbor, believe that any subsidy must be contingent upon proof of labor agreements covering venue construction and operations, and support the Prince
George’s County Council imposing that requirement as a condition of public funding, according to a recent We Are Labor 2 poll.
We Are Labor 2, an independent expenditure committee, was formed in 2024 by a group of labor organizations whose members live and work in Maryland. We Are Labor 2 is committed to ensuring the voice of Maryland’s working people is heard during the electoral process and on policy issues that impact workers’ lives and financial well-being. The poll of 600 Prince George’s County residents was conducted by Public Policy Polling on September 24 through September 25, 2026.
“The findings demonstrate the extent to which Prince George’s County residents value labor unions, and the essential, irreplaceable role unions play in creating quality jobs with benefits, delivering a voice at the worksite and preventing worker exploitation from wage theft.”
– Victoria Leonard, Treasurer
We Are Labor 2
“The findings demonstrate the extent to which Prince George’s County residents value labor unions, and the essential, irreplaceable role unions play in creating quality jobs with benefits, delivering a voice at the worksite and preventing worker exploitation from wage theft.”
– Victoria Leonard, Treasurer
We Are Labor 2
“The poll provides decisive findings on what Prince George’s County residents think of the proposed Sphere at National Harbor,” said We Are Labor 2 Treasurer Victoria Leonard. “The findings demonstrate the extent to which Prince George’s County residents value labor unions, and the essential, irreplaceable role unions play in creating quality jobs with benefits, delivering a voice at the worksite and preventing worker exploitation from wage theft.”
Topline results of the poll are attached, and they reflect a pessimistic view of the state of the county and underwhelming support for a Sphere at National Harbor. The poll indicates that nearly half (48%) of Prince Georgians think that things in the county have gotten off on the wrong track. Only 38% of residents support the Sphere project, 31% oppose it, and 31% are not sure. Two-thirds (67%) of residents oppose County Executive Braveboy’s proposed $215 million taxpayer subsidy for the project.
The control that billionaire Jim Dolan exercises over Sphere Entertainment Co., which owns the Las Vegas Sphere and wants to expand to National Harbor, as well as the millions of dollars’ worth of payment disputes over the construction of the Las Vegas Sphere, increase residents’ opposition to providing a taxpayer subsidy. After learning that Sphere Entertainment is a publicly-traded company valued at $5 billion, managed by billionaire Jim Dolan who owns several major sports teams, and that Mr. Dolan and his family have majority voting control over Sphere Entertainment, 61% of county residents report they are less likely to support $215 million in public funding. A whopping 70% of county residents are less likely to support the subsidy once informed of the lawsuits and disputes over unpaid work on the Las Vegas Sphere.
The MGM Casino was built with strong labor agreements covering construction and operations. This resonates with residents; nearly 70 % of Prince Georgians indicate that similar agreements should be in place before the Sphere at National Harbor receives a public subsidy.
The failure of Sphere Entertainment to meet with construction, hospitality, and service worker unions does not sit well with Prince George’s County residents;. 60% indicate they are less likely to support a $215 million taxpayer subsidy after learning that the company has been unwilling to meet with labor unions and negotiate agreements. The majority of residents (54%) support the Prince George’s County Council requiring signed agreements as a condition of the taxpayer subsidy.
“We Are Labor 2 and its participating labor organizations call on the Prince George’s County Council to stand with working people, lean into their power, and as a condition of any public subsidy, require strong labor agreements between Sphere Entertainment and construction, hospitality, and service worker unions. The County Council needs to review and verify these agreements as part of its approval process,” stated Leonard.
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We Are Labor 2 is an independent expenditure committee formed in 2024 by a group of labor organizations whose members live and work in Maryland. Participating labor organizations include the Philadelphia / Baltimore / Washington Laborers’ District Council, UNITE HERE Local 25, SEIU 32BJ, UFCW Local 400, the Baltimore-DC Metro Building Trades Council, IUPAT District Council 51, UFCW Local 27, UFCW Local 1994, SEIU 1199, the IBEW, and the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO.