On March 27, Edwards Cinema hosted its first live Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Fans of all ages, shapes and sizes filled the theater, eager to view the UFC mixed-martial arts show on a large screen. Entrance cost $20, and attendees stocked up at the snack bar before entering the theater.
“I’ve been watching UFC for about two years now,” said Mory Poshtkoushi, “I used to go to the Firehouse and watch it, but at the Firehouse the seats aren’t as nice and it’s a lot louder.”
“I prefer to watch it at theater instead of a bar,” said Michael Pinon before entering the theater.
On the other side of town, B. Ryders Sports Bar and Grill held a viewing of the fight. A $10 cover charge was asked upon entry, and fans boisterously expressed their excitement as they watched the fight on the two big-screen televisions.
Some people shouted passionately as the fighters battled, some chain-smoked cigarettes outside, periodically looking through the glass to catch the glimpse of the intensity, and some sat quietly in the booths sipping their beverages, commenting on the fight among friends.
The venues offered an alternative to the home pay-per-view cost of approximately $50. Edwards Cinema sold out shortly after 7 p.m., and fans seemed pleased by the new choice in UFC viewings.
Rachel Morales, 18, a fan of heavyweight Frank Mir, said, “I’ve ordered on pay-per-view before, and I would also go to the pizza place and watch it there, but once I found out that it was in theaters, I thought, ‘That’s kind of cool’ and so I decided to watch it here.”
As far as the loudness and passion that can be found at other venues, Morales said, “Actually I like it when there are people shouting out for their favorite fighter. It’s pretty cool because you get to see who is going for who.”
A recently developed tactic in theaters, cinemas are now offering alternatives to the usual Hollywood produced movies. Edwards has been scheduling live opera showings Saturday mornings for the past two years. According to General Manager Herman Mil, the operas usually draw a crowd of 100 people each Saturday.
Live concerts have also been added to the selection. The Black Eyed Peas E.N.D. of the World tour was streamed live on March 30 and Kenny Chesney’s Summer in 3D will open April 21.
Shows and plays that deviate from the traditional movie are expected regularly at Edwards in the future. “It’s the next evolution in theater,” said Mil.