Will theater get stadium seating in the near future? It's not likely
A retrofit to the revived concept of stadium seating at Movies 10 appears unlikely.
Steve Mann, president of Mann Theatres Inc., said a retrofit would be difficult because of the Movies 10 at Westgate building construction and loss of seats. The new Movies 10 theater was ready for construction just before stadium seating became the trend. Movies 10 opened in December 1996.
Stadium seating, like at the Metrodome or Target Center, is designed to offer all viewers an unobstructed view.
Older, regular moviegoers, in their 30s and 40s and older, don't mind traditional seating, Mann said. He said younger people like stadium seating, but older people are not thrilled with the stairs. Mann said theaters now offer a 75/25 split with 25 percent traditional seating.
Stadium seating, which was found in 1930s-era theaters, appears to be here to stay. But the lakes area is likely to have to wait for a new theater to be built before it can be part of the trend.