Prince George’s County Council approves National Harbor Sphere finance deal despite labor pushback

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The Prince George’s County Council voted to approve a financing package that will bring the proposed Sphere to Maryland’s National Harbor.

Leaders are calling it a massive win for the county, but the move has labor groups feeling left out.

What we know:

The $215 million deal will bring thousands of jobs to an area that has been hit hard by the losses of Six Flags, the Washington Commanders and the FBI headquarters.

"I know by attracting a venue like the Sphere here it sends a message to businesses, to the community, to the world, that Prince George’s County is an amazing place to be," said County Executive Aisha Braveboy.

RELATED: Proposed Sphere could be National Harbor's tallest venue

Amendments to add a project labor agreement to the once-in-a-lifetime deal failed. It would have set union labor standards for construction, which building trades have been pushing for.

Instead, councilmembers approved a labor peace agreement for jobs after the Sphere is built and operating at National Harbor, along with a community benefits agreement.

Labor leaders said workers should have benefited more.

RELATED: Prince George's County businesses push for National Harbor Sphere jobs

"Today, workers got 50% of what they wanted. In this economy, workers should be getting a lot more," said Samuel Epps, President of Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO.

Some councilmembers said they were worried Sphere would walk away if a project labor agreement was in place.

A final council vote is expected at the end of October. Public hearings will be taking place, though dates have not yet been shared.

The Sphere is expected to cost more than $1 billion to build, with an annual tax revenue of about $67 million, which is triple the tax revenue of both the Commanders and Six Flags combined, according to Braveboy.

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