CFO of Las Vegas’ splashy $2.3 billion Sphere arena abruptly QUITS after being ‘yelled and screamed’ by MSG boss James Dolan
- Gautam Ranji, chief financial officer of Las Vegas entertainment venue Sphere, quit on October 30 after just 11 months in the role
- Ranji was reportedly “yelled and yelled at” by James Dolan, the businessman who owns Sphere, as well as a slew of venues in New York City and the Knicks
- Neither Dolan nor Ranji commented: Dolan’s company said “his departure from the company was not the result of any disagreement” with management
The chief financial officer of Las Vegas entertainment venue Sphere abruptly resigned last month after the company’s famously volatile owner “yelled and screamed” at him during a meeting.
Gautam Ranji was verbally abused on October 30 by James Dolan, whose company also owns Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks NBA team.
Dolan “yelled and screamed” at Ranji, sources said The New York Post.
Ranji ‘calmly’ left the room in the middle of the meeting and passed his notice to the company’s general counsel.
“Gautam is very calm and can handle it most of the time,” a source told the newspaper.
However, Dolan, 68, is “the consummate hammer,” the source added.
“He treats everyone like a nail.”
James Dolan (left), the billionaire owner of Madison Square Garden and Sphere in Las Vegas, reportedly “yelled and screamed” at Sphere CFO Gautam Ranji (right). Ranji quit on October 30
Tourists are seen in front of Sphere on September 29
Sphere cost $2.3 billion to build and dazzles Las Vegas
The source said the timing of Ranji’s departure, days before the quarterly earnings presentation – scheduled for November 8 – was notable.
“They did a fantastic job of burying the news,” the source said. “A CFO leaving less than a week before the earnings results is unheard of.”
A Sphere spokesperson, asked by DailyMail.com to comment on Ranji’s departure, pointed to a statement in the company’s securities filings made on November 3.
“The publicly filed 8K clearly outlines that his departure from the company was not the result of any disagreement with the company’s accountants or any member of management,” the spokesperson said.
Neither Dolan nor Ranji have commented.
Dolan has taken on a hands-on role in leading Sphere since MSG Sphere president Lucas Watson left the company in February after 13 months in the role.
Sphere, which cost $2.3 billion – $1 billion over budget – opened on September 29, with U2 headlining a series of spectacular shows with guest stars including Lady Gaga.
Dolan is seen at a New York Knicks game in 2019
Dolan can be seen at the opening of Sphere on September 29
Bono and Lady Gaga will perform at Sphere on October 25
U2 can be seen taking center stage at Sphere – a venue that has wowed audiences in its first month in action
The Sphere is the brainchild of Dolan, who sketched the first drawing of the location on notebook paper.
The enormous spherical venue, 110 meters high, lights up the Las Vegas skyline.
In the 150-metre-wide Sphere, a high-resolution LED screen envelops the 17,500-seat audience halfway up.
The venue is equipped with thousands of speakers that will deliver a ‘crystal clear’, layered experience.
“I think maybe The Sphere came about because Jim Dolan was trying to solve the problem that The Beatles started when they played Shea Stadium,” Bono said on opening night.
‘Nobody could hear you. You couldn’t hear yourself. Well, the Sphere is here. Can you hear us?’