Filmgoers enjoy some advance buzz

Regal Cinemas rolled out the red carpet for Coeur d’Alene moviegoers Wednesday night.

Patrons sipped wine, nibbled shrimp and listened to live music at the opening bash for Regal’s new Riverstone Stadium theater.

“Bewitched” was the surprise feature film. The $50-a-ticket charity event raised $30,000 for North Idaho College’s athletic department.

Patrons gave the 14-screen theater flattering reviews. The new theater brings stadium seating to Coeur d’Alene for the first time. It also has digital sound. And at nearly 53,000-square feet, it can seat 2,250 people.

“It’s a major upgrade,” said guest Dena Wuerst.

“Much better than the Showboat,” chimed in Kellie O’Myer, who was there celebrating her 14th wedding anniversary. “It’s kind of like the opening of a movie in Hollywood. … I like to see some culture here in Idaho.”

Regal’s two older theaters in Coeur d’Alene were showing their age, the two women said. The technology was outdated, the upholstery was dirty and torn, and the seats didn’t have much spring left.

“We needed a new theater,” agreed Robbie Arrington, marketing manager for Regal Entertainment Group, which is based in Knoxville. “The time was right.”

Regal will operate the theater under a long-term lease from SRM Development, a company owned by developer John Stone. The new theater will replace Regal’s Showboat and Coeur d’Alene 5 cinemas, which will close for good on Friday. Arrington said the old theaters already have new owners, who agreed not to use the buildings as theaters under a “do not compete” clause.

Stone said he’s still tallying costs for Riverstone Stadium but expects the bill to come in at more than $12 million. Contractors worked during the past three weeks to finish the new building, which features glass and natural stone, while Regal hired and trained 100 employees. The theater will be the center of a retail complex in Riverstone, Stone’s mixed-use development built on an old mill site along the Spokane River.

Stone envisions the theater drawing more people to Coeur d’Alene’s historic central business district. Eventually, a shuttle will move people between the theater and restaurants, he said.

“It’s going to help refocus attention on downtown,” he said.

With a new theater in town, Teresa Bashaw said that she’ll stop driving to the Spokane Valley Mall to see movies.

“I’m a major movie buff anyways,” Bashaw said Wednesday night. “I just love that a theater was built downtown where I live. … My 13-year daughter is ecstatic that she can walk to the movies with her friends.”

Friday is Riverstone Stadium’s official grand opening, with features including “Bewitched,” “Land of the Dead” and “Herbie: Fully Loaded.”

Theatergoers actually got their first glimpse of the new facility Monday, the first of three “dollar-day” showings of second-run movies this week. The “dollar days” were also charity events, raising $7,000 each for the Tubbs Hill Foundation and the Coeur d’Alene Press’ community Christmas Fund. The $1 movie showing continues today, with proceeds benefiting Children’s Village.

Monday’s opening day had a few hitches. The power went out and wasn’t restored until 11:30 a.m. – 15 minutes before curtain time. By the time the last patrons trailed out the door around midnight, however, managers were declaring the opening day a success.

“We had about 2,900 people through here” on Monday, Arrington said.

The new carpet had popcorn crumbs to prove it.

At 14 screens, the new theater is a midsize operation for Regal, which also has cinemas at Spokane Valley Mall and NorthTown. The theater is large enough to offer a few of the more popular art films and independents, but most of the movies will be blockbuster fare, Arrington said.

Occasionally, the theater could also host large business meetings or live feeds from concerts or college ballgames.

Regal is experimenting with various types of programming. “During the day, we’ve got a lot of empty seats that we’d like to fill up,” Arrington said.

A spinoff company, National CineMedia, looks for alternate ways to generate revenue. National CineMedia was started by Regal, and now operates under the joint ownership of Regal and AMC Entertainment.

Another new feature of the theater is two ATM-style kiosks by the ticket windows. Movie patrons can order their tickets online at www.fandango.com and pick them up anytime at the kiosks.

“We no longer have the ‘Star Wars’ lines before the movie,” Arrington said. “Advanced sales can start a month out. … It builds anticipation.”