Jan. 6, 2009
HISTORY MAKING EVENT: Watch Undisputed National College Championship Game in 3-D on Giant Charleston Cinema Screen
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Charleston, WV (HNN) -- Two Heisman Trophy Finalists… a pair of one loss college teams from the Big 12 and SEC … Oklahoma has scored at least 49 points in its last seven games and rival Florida has beaten seven bowl bound teams by a combined 445-79 score.
When the Sooners and Seminoles take the Orange Bowl field in Miami in what has been declared the strongest title game in a decade, you don't have to fly to the Sunshine State and have networked with a VIP to claim a seat comparable to the forty yard line.
This ultimate 3-D sporting event comes to a fifty foot by twenty two foot screen at Marquee's Southridge Cinemas in Charleston, January 8, when the University of Florida and the University of Oklahoma play for 2008's #1 ranking. "That six or seven times what you would have at home," explained Curtis McCall, President and CEO of Marquee Cinemas.
Beaming the FedEx BCS National Championship live to theatres in 35 states, will be the first widespread live 3-D cinema transmission of a sports broadcast to the public. The next will be an NBA All Star Showcase. "We've seen some of the NBA stuff already and it's pretty impressive," McCall said.
As of Monday afternoon, the Oklahoma/Florida game has "pretty strong" advance sales, "but we haven't sold anything out yet."
You can anticipate a game atmosphere in the theatre auditorium. McCall compared it to the 2-D big screen showing of the West Virginia University / Louisville game. "We had a blast. The place was packed and [the announcers] catered to the crowd," the theatre owner explained adding that the announcers called out "how is everybody in Beckley, WV watching at the Galleria. Are you having fun. It was phenomenal , they did stuff like that on every other commercial break."
Both the BCS and NBA All Star 3-D will only play at Marquee's Charleston location. McCall tried to secure other venues, but originally the promoters only wanted the chain's New Jersey multiplex. Eventually, they agreed to add Charleston, Raleigh, Fredericksburg, and New Hartford.
Unlike concerts, the key to securing a live sporting event relates to who owns the rights. For instance, on the WVU game, the university sold the rights to the Big East which in turn sold them to ESPN/ABC. The multiplex telecast, which also played at theatres in Morgantown and Louisville had to negotiate a deal with ESPN.
"We have been pushing for more WVU games since last year. The key to sporting events is who controls the rights and what can you buy them for… can you get a reasonable price," McCall explained. "Once we get the model opened up and moving, I think it will come fast and furious." Thus, down the pike a 3-D telecast of a Marshall game or bowl appearance could occur.
From a technical stand point, the game is shot with 3-D capable cameras, beamed up to a satellite, then theatres installed additional decoders to download the picture and translate it.
Bud Mayo, chairman and CEO of Cinedigm (formerly AccessIT), the digital technology used at Marquee's cinemas, said in a prepared release, "We are changing the way the public enjoys movie theatres. Tens of thousands of sports fans around the country now will have a chance to experience one-time sporting events, live, in 3-D, at their local multiplexes. We are delighted that major sports franchises and consumer brands are realizing the benefits of this new kind of entertainment for the public. Our growing national network of 80-plus top-quality theatres can help expand both the audience for sporting events, creating new revenue opportunities for sponsors and exhibitors, while giving more entertainment options to the average family."
The January 8 BCS championship game and the forthcoming Feb. 14, NBA All Star Saturday Night , are the first times fans can see live 3-D sporting events nationwide on hundreds of screens in neighborhood multiplexes.
Admission for both events is $20. To purchase advance tickets, click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com
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HISTORY MAKING EVENT: Watch Undisputed National College Championship Game in 3-D on Giant Charleston Cinema Screen
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Charleston, WV (HNN) -- Two Heisman Trophy Finalists… a pair of one loss college teams from the Big 12 and SEC … Oklahoma has scored at least 49 points in its last seven games and rival Florida has beaten seven bowl bound teams by a combined 445-79 score.
When the Sooners and Seminoles take the Orange Bowl field in Miami in what has been declared the strongest title game in a decade, you don't have to fly to the Sunshine State and have networked with a VIP to claim a seat comparable to the forty yard line.
This ultimate 3-D sporting event comes to a fifty foot by twenty two foot screen at Marquee's Southridge Cinemas in Charleston, January 8, when the University of Florida and the University of Oklahoma play for 2008's #1 ranking. "That six or seven times what you would have at home," explained Curtis McCall, President and CEO of Marquee Cinemas.
Beaming the FedEx BCS National Championship live to theatres in 35 states, will be the first widespread live 3-D cinema transmission of a sports broadcast to the public. The next will be an NBA All Star Showcase. "We've seen some of the NBA stuff already and it's pretty impressive," McCall said.
As of Monday afternoon, the Oklahoma/Florida game has "pretty strong" advance sales, "but we haven't sold anything out yet."
You can anticipate a game atmosphere in the theatre auditorium. McCall compared it to the 2-D big screen showing of the West Virginia University / Louisville game. "We had a blast. The place was packed and [the announcers] catered to the crowd," the theatre owner explained adding that the announcers called out "how is everybody in Beckley, WV watching at the Galleria. Are you having fun. It was phenomenal , they did stuff like that on every other commercial break."
Both the BCS and NBA All Star 3-D will only play at Marquee's Charleston location. McCall tried to secure other venues, but originally the promoters only wanted the chain's New Jersey multiplex. Eventually, they agreed to add Charleston, Raleigh, Fredericksburg, and New Hartford.
Unlike concerts, the key to securing a live sporting event relates to who owns the rights. For instance, on the WVU game, the university sold the rights to the Big East which in turn sold them to ESPN/ABC. The multiplex telecast, which also played at theatres in Morgantown and Louisville had to negotiate a deal with ESPN.
"We have been pushing for more WVU games since last year. The key to sporting events is who controls the rights and what can you buy them for… can you get a reasonable price," McCall explained. "Once we get the model opened up and moving, I think it will come fast and furious." Thus, down the pike a 3-D telecast of a Marshall game or bowl appearance could occur.
From a technical stand point, the game is shot with 3-D capable cameras, beamed up to a satellite, then theatres installed additional decoders to download the picture and translate it.
Bud Mayo, chairman and CEO of Cinedigm (formerly AccessIT), the digital technology used at Marquee's cinemas, said in a prepared release, "We are changing the way the public enjoys movie theatres. Tens of thousands of sports fans around the country now will have a chance to experience one-time sporting events, live, in 3-D, at their local multiplexes. We are delighted that major sports franchises and consumer brands are realizing the benefits of this new kind of entertainment for the public. Our growing national network of 80-plus top-quality theatres can help expand both the audience for sporting events, creating new revenue opportunities for sponsors and exhibitors, while giving more entertainment options to the average family."
The January 8 BCS championship game and the forthcoming Feb. 14, NBA All Star Saturday Night , are the first times fans can see live 3-D sporting events nationwide on hundreds of screens in neighborhood multiplexes.
Admission for both events is $20. To purchase advance tickets, click: http://www.marqueecinemas.com
Share This Story:
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