By Tamas Mondovics
Greater Brandon area residents and movie lovers are now promised to have no shortage of theater seats to fill this holiday season, thanks to the construction of two brand new theaters; Riverview 14 GDX in Gibsonton and Xscape Theaters on Progress Village Blvd.
Both theaters are nearing completion and are said to open on time, to welcome the holiday crowd.
AMC The Regency 20 Theaters, located in Regency Square 2496 W Brandon Blvd, which has been serving the Brandon area and has dominated the movie market for more than three decades, will now have to share the road and work a bit harder to keep its longtime guests.
Just 15 minutes south on I-75, on Gibsonton Drive, Goodrich Quality Theaters is building Riverview 14 GDX, a 66,000 sq. ft., facility with 14 screens.
According to Goodrich Quality Theaters Marketing and Creative Director, Kelly Nash, Riverview 14 GDX will be Tampa Bay’s Largest Screens all with comfortable, plush, powered recliners.
“The theater will include two auditoriums with GDX (Giant Digital Experience), our premium large Format (PLF) screen, much like IMAX, with a screen span of 70 ft. wide and feature state of the art Dolby Atmos multi-dimensional sound systems with discrete sound being pumped out of more than 50 speakers,” Nash said.
While Riverview 14 GDX’s opening day is yet to be determined, Nash said the company is hoping to welcome its first guests in late November.
Less than five miles north on Progress Village Blvd., construction is only weeks from completion on the $15 million Xscape Theaters, the area’s third movie and entertainment destination option.
When open, the facility, which brings an additional 14 screens (12 regular auditoriums and two XTREME auditoriums), will effectively raise the total number of screens between the three multiplex locations to 48.
Xscape Theaters representative, Scott Bagwell emphasized the wide variety of impressive features and perks that rival all others. “We offer what all movie lovers want; better picture, better sound and better price,” Bagwell said adding, “We have better seats also.”
While each facility pretty much offers the same thing, theater representatives agreed that keeping old guests and winning new ones comes down to much more than just the size and number of screens, expanded food menus, extra wide rows or the plush reclining chairs, all of which are actually up to each guest’s personal preference.
“We realize, the Greater Brandon area communities will now have more choices in the area for movie theaters,” Nash said, adding, “We will be competitive with ticket and concession prices.”
It is safe to say that the real winners are the local movie goers, who will now have three multiplex theaters, nearly 50 screens, plush seats, great snacks and refreshments along with a truck load of extra special amenities to choose from as they look forward to a great movie experience during the upcoming holiday season and beyond.
For more information about AMC The Regency 20 Theaters, please visit www.amctheatres.com, Riverview 14 DGX Theaters, please visit www.goodrichqualitytheaters.com.
For more about Xscape Theaters, please visit www.xscapetheatres.com.
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