|  IP: Logged

"One of the big lessons of the rocky theatre business consolidation has been that bigger isn't necessarily better. Through most of its history theatre business has been deeply fragmented, characterized by small chains, often family owned, that dominated a region or a city. Consolidation began in the mid-1990's and offered some economies of scale in management and in the purchase of concession goods and the like.
Though they publicly denied it, some at Regal and two buyout firms that own it thought their giant chain would enjoy another advantage: better terms on renting films from the Hollywood film studios. Regal also thought it would have an advantage over smaller competitors in the construction of glitzy new theatres with "stadium seating" and other amenities that moviegoers have come to love and expect.
But Regal was wrong on both counts. Other theater circuits, even smaller regional ones, were able to build new facilities just as fast as Regal and they often beat Regal to the best locations. The result was an explosion of new movie theatres in the U.S. that resulted in an overbuilt industry. Compounding the problem, Regal and other chains haven't been able to close their old, now-obsolete theaters fast enough. With so many screens in operation all over the country, hopes of demanding better film terms from Hollywood also evaporated.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"And those who don't learn from the past are condemned to repeat it"

 |  IP: Logged

 |  IP: Logged

I think that the last official act I had for Regal when I walked out on them was to allow my booth Beagle mascot to "Sniff out and boldly 'go' where no Beagle has gone before in that building."

 |  IP: Logged