KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The second phase of updates on Knoxville's landmark building, The Sunsphere, is set to start in May 2024. The updates will include a new welcome center at a Clinch Avenue entrance.
The updated welcome center will feature staffed ticketing, expanded shopping, brochures and information in an enclosed space overlooking World's Fair Park, according to Visit Knoxville. Currently, ticketing to visit The Sunsphere involves scanning a QR code to pay for a ticket at a specific time slot.
The welcome center's interior is also expected to have windows overlooking World's Fair Park and a unique skylight feature.
Throughout the construction process, The Sunphere is also expected to stay open.
"We've welcomed over 115,000 visitors from all 50 states and 57 countries. And while those visitors didn't come to Knoxville just to go to The Sunsphere, they visited The Sunsphere while they were here, and they did it for a variety of reasons," said Kim Bumpas, the president of Visit Knoxville.
The first phase of updates included painting The Sunsphere blue — returning the steel back to its original color.