Regal Cinemas Leave Oklahoma City Market

[writerranger]

North America's largest theater chain has left the Oklahoma City market, selling it's Crossroads Mall 16-screen theater to AMC of Kansas City.

I'm glad to hear this. AMC theaters are supposedly much better managed. I know I like the Quail location. Maybe one of our OKCTalk theater guys can chime on on why Regal left.

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[bombermwc]

I just hope that we don't lose some of the simulcast events they had partnered with Regal on...like Drum Corps International.

[jbrown84]

This is old news. Several months old. It's been listed in the paper as AMC Crossroads 16 for a while now.

[Patrick]

I don't see where it will be that big of a change. AMC, Regal.....Umm, they're all mega theater chains. Nothing special.

[writerranger]

Actually, I was hoping one of the movie theater guys here on the board could fill us in on the who-what-when-where-why kind of thing on this topic. To me, when the largest theater chain in North America leaves our market - it's worthy of discussion.

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[jbrown84]

What source said it was the largest? Because I'm pretty sure AMC was the largest, even before they absorbed Loewe's Cineplex.

What I do know is that my sister worked at AMC for two years and their theatres are extremely well managed. They are also the only theatre offering indie films besides the OKCMOA. The Regal Theatre was in bad shape, and hopefully the new management can clean it up.

[writerranger]

Regal Entertainment Group: 6,273 screens in 584 locations in 40 states.

AMC: 5,672 screens in 415 locations in 29 states

I like this move, as I said before, AMC is a better run company. But why did Regal give up on OKC? I'm just curious from the theater pros here on the board as to what they know.

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[jbrown84]

They probably took a big hit from Harkins and then heard about this little theatre they are supposed to build in Moore...

[writerranger]

They probably took a big hit from Harkins and then heard about this little theatre they are supposed to build in Moore...

Same thinking I had....except....if it was such a poor performing theater with a not so great future, why would AMC want it? I don't know why I am so curious about this - just one of those things. I'd like to hear from "Bobby H" on this. He seems to know the theater biz inside and out, and then there's another poster from Lawton who is much the same. Or, am I thinking of the same person?

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[Bobby H]

If there is another person from Lawton writing about this subject it's definitely another person, I only post here under my "Bobby H" user name.

This is the first I've heard of Regal leaving the Oklahoma City area. But the news isn't really surprising.

My take on it: It seems a lot of big movie theater chains are trying to dominate certain markets while removing theaters in other markets where they don't have a huge presence. The Crossroads 16 was Regal's only location in OKC.

In all the merger-mania that has happened, many of these theater chains have been loaded up with lots of debt. Quite a few of these chains went into bankruptcy at the end of the 1990s and early part of this decade due to "over-building" of new stadium seated theaters.

Regal gobbled up a number of chains, with United Artists being the biggest of them, to become the largest exhibitor in the country. They have a huge amount of overhead. I guess the strategy is they want to concentrate on markets where they have multiple locations and leave behind others that may end up dominated by someone else, like AMC, Harkins, Warren, etc. In dominating specific cities, they may actually gain more leverage when negotiating booking contracts with Hollywood movie studios.

AMC also has its own share of big debt. The chain merged with Loews-Cineplex over the last year. They even had to sell some of their theaters to other chains in certain markets (such as New York City) to avoid anti-trust issues.

I'm not sure I understand why all the mergers are happening. The only thing I can figure is the movie theater industry is in a big state of flux. The fundamental technology of showing movies is changing very radically (and not necessarily for the better either). Things like "digital cinema" bring a LOT of unpredictability to the market. So these guys are merging with each other and consolidating their markets to remove as much unpredictability as possible. The adoption of digital cinema is a very expensive proposition. Huge chains like AMC and Regal would like to do it in as comfortable (and slow) a manner as possible.

Upstart companies like Warren Theaters won't make that easy. Even some big chains, like Carmike Cinemas, are going the other direction and adopting digital cinema in an aggressive manner (and through a creative agreement with some other technology companies). Half that chain's 2400 screens are already equipped for digital cinema. Carmike currently has the only digital cinema equipped screens in Oklahoma (at four locations: Lawton, Shawnee, Stillwater and Muskogee).

Anyway, combine all that with the mediocre quality of movies these days and their ever-faster arrival on DVD and that can't make it easy for movie theater companies, big or small.

[writerranger]

Thanks for weighing in, Bobby H, you certainly know your stuff! It's a fascinating business to watch.

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[jbrown84]

Despite the departure of Regal (who also owned Windsor Hills and Kickingbird at one time), we still have a more diverse offering than some cities. Wichita has nothing but Warren Theatres pretty much. He kind of has a monopoly up there.

[Bobby H]

Considering the very high quality level typical of Warren Theaters, that's one case where I wouldn't mind a certain chain monopolizing a certain market. Movie-goers up in Wichita are getting a benefit few people in the rest of the country see when visiting a movie theater.

Hardly any other exhibitors in the nation (if any) put the kind of top notch hardware and THX-certification in on every auditorium the way Warren does it. AMC and Cinemark sure don't do it. Out of movie theaters in Oklahoma City, Harkins' Bricktown 16 is the only one I want to visit.

Cinemark hasn't built a new theater with THX-certified auditoriums since 1995. And they let all THX licenses they had on existing theaters lapse in 1996. They started using cheaper projectors, amps and other hardware. In recent years their only impressive theaters have been the IMAX-branded ones (with the nearest ones to us being in Tulsa and Dallas).

AMC has done a number of things over the years that frustrate me. The worst is the company's habit of sticking all the surround sound speakers in the ceiling. Add a solid Torus screen with speakers above and below the screen (instead of behind it like normal) and you get this big echo-ey sound in front of you and on top of your head. It just doesn't work like normal surround sound.

I won't even get started on Dickinson Theaters.

The Warren location in Moore will be a great addition to the city's selection of movie theaters, if not the best outright. Oklahoma City could use some other theaters capable of showing art films, indie films, etc., in a very good, high quality environment. The Bricktown 16 doesn't normally show any of that kind of product. With that said, I could see room for a true art-house theater opening nearby as well.

[escan]

My husband has recently relocated to Wichita for work and rents a loft in Old Town Square. Keep this in mind...I love Oklahoma City and would love for his relocation to be temporary and for us to make OKC our permanent home.

That being said, I much prefer the Warren Theaters and the Old Town area in general feels more vibrant than the Bricktown area; granted there's not a canal, or our wonderful Ballpark, but the restaurants and bars feel much more "local." There is the token Old Chicago, etc, but the majority of places seem to be independents...it IS on a smaller scale, but WOW! With their great loft apartments, within walking distance to restaurants and theaters....(I'd still prefer to live here,) but it seems like they have the downtown living and local establishments figured a little better.

A quick note on the Warren Downtown...I LOVE being able to order a pizza and a glass of wine while I watch my movie....Casino Royal was MUCH enhanced by a little wine!~

[writerranger]

I won't even get started on Dickinson Theaters.

I'll do it for you. Isn't that the Penn Square theater? AWFUL! Presentation, sound, dirty restrooms, it's just awful.

With that said, I could see room for a true art-house theater opening nearby as well.

That would be SO nice. I frequent the OKCMOA's Noble Theater as they show some good indie films at times, but the theater lacks decent sound, the screen is very small and they lack the funds to bring some of the good films here. They try though - I have to give Brian Hearn that much. I certainly hope you're right, Bobby, that an art house could find a home here in Oklahoma City.

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[writerranger]

My husband has recently relocated to Wichita for work and rents a loft in Old Town Square. Keep this in mind...I love Oklahoma City and would love for his relocation to be temporary and for us to make OKC our permanent home.

That being said, I much prefer the Warren Theaters and the Old Town area in general feels more vibrant than the Bricktown area; granted there's not a canal, or our wonderful Ballpark, but the restaurants and bars feel much more "local." There is the token Old Chicago, etc, but the majority of places seem to be independents...it IS on a smaller scale, but WOW! With their great loft apartments, within walking distance to restaurants and theaters....(I'd still prefer to live here,) but it seems like they have the downtown living and local establishments figured a little better.

A quick note on the Warren Downtown...I LOVE being able to order a pizza and a glass of wine while I watch my movie....Casino Royal was MUCH enhanced by a little wine!~

For its market size, Wichita has been kicking butt. No other way to say it.

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[jbrown84]

I have a lot of confidence that Midtown will become more like Wichita's Old Town. More local and more residential.

[MikeLucky]

to the topic:

All the theaters in town will be fighting for second place behind the Warren. Period.

Movie buffs and audiophiles will revel in the conscious effort put forward by the custom built projectors and THX-EX sound systems.

Casual movie-goers will love the 50's style feel, soda-shop in the lobby, and the more upscale dining/drinking movie experience.

All visitors will come to be drawn to the attention to detail like custom made carpet, all the employees in tuxedos, custom rocker seats, and the VERY EXPENSIVE "waterfall" type curtains that raise before every movie......

I can't express how excited I am that Warren is building a theater here in my town..... when it opens I will not see a movie anywhere else in the city.

About Wichita:

It's funny to see some of the comments here about Wichita. I grew up there but couldn't wait to move to OKC. Maybe it's just a "feel" thing, but I like Bricktown so much more than Old Town and I feel like OKC just has a lot more to offer generally......

but I do miss QT's..... now that the Warren is coming, the QT is the one and only thing I miss about Wichita....

[escan]

Wichita Sooner-
Agreed. OKC does have more to offer. I just feel like they nailed it with the Old Town in areas where OKC has suffered (housing, local establishments, etc.) And yes, QT's are great.

[Karried]

Speaking of movie theaters.. I've been meaning to mention this for awhile but just a side note for those who weren't aware of this..

You can take in a movie for $4.00 Sat. Sun and Holidays at Quail Springs Mall before NOON.

Quail Springs Mall Movie Listings

You'll have to wait until Friday to get the times I think, but you can add the link to your favorites.

[Jack Wonder]

Where exactly is the Warren going to be located?

And when is the expected opening?

[Karried]

Try here... I didn't read all the posts but maybe someone addressed in this thread..

http://www.okctalk.com/moore/6926-wa...warren+theater

[jbrown84]

At 19th and I-35, on the NW corner, just north of the Riverwalk development.

[Bobby H]

It's been awhile since I passed the construction site on I-35, so I don't know just how far along the project has progressed. I know they've finished much of the ground preparation, but don't know how much has been done on the actual foundation itself (as well as important items that need to be run up through it such as plumbing, electrical power conduits, etc.).

Based on other theater projects I've seen built in somewhat similar scale, once the foundation is complete it will take at least several months to build the theater on top of it. The walls will seem to go up fast, but it's all that work on the interior that will take quite a bit of time.

My guess is, if we're lucky, the theater could be open by Thanksgiving. Bad weather could push the opening back to Christmas. There's no way the construction people can get something that big finished by the summer movie season.

[chrisok]

Still looks like dirt work is going on at the new theatre. The massive snow storms have probably slowed them down.