AEG, one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment presenters, along with Regal, one of the largest and most geographically diverse theater circuits in the United States, and Barco, the global leader in digital cinema, have successfully converted all auditoriums at Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center to 100 percent laser projection.
This final phase of installations and upgrades makes the cinema the first all-laser multiplex on the U.S. West Coast and one of the most technologically advanced, world-renowned movie theaters to date.
Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center, owned by AEG, has always featured the latest and greatest technologies in cinema since opening in 2009. AEG and Regal have worked diligently to be the first in the market to deliver the very best experiences to customers. When considering laser projection, both companies sought a partner that would allow the theater to offer the next level in image quality and the ultimate cinematic experience for patrons. This led to the partnership with Barco, a game-changing company and leader in the worldwide adoption of laser projection technology for cinema.
“Much like Barco, we are constantly on the search for new and innovative technologies to help bring the magic of the movies to life for our audiences,” said Shelby Russell, Vice President, AEG & L.A. LIVE Marketing. “Thanks to our partnership with Barco and their leading laser technology, Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center is truly an entertainment venue like no other, and we’re proud to remain at the forefront of our industry year after year.”
The new Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center, which launched officially to the public on April 1, delivers an all-encompassing immersive experience from start to finish, featuring Barco’s four key premium movie-watching technologies in the fully upgraded multiplex, including:
Barco Lobby Experience: Delivering more than one million impressions during the past six months, the Barco Lobby Experience consists of numerous digital displays, lights, a custom multi-screen movie trailer presentation solution called “Lobby Domination” and other innovative technology throughout the lobby and concourse area. It also serves as a focal point of the cinema, entertaining guests with exciting images of upcoming titles and more.
Barco Laser: Two of the auditoriums now feature Barco’s latest, Flagship Laser projectors for premium auditoriums, which deliver stunning brightness and rich, vibrant colors to bring movies to life in a never-before-seen way. All other cinema screens in the complex have been outfitted with the
award-winning Barco Laser Phosphor projectors, representing the first in their class to surpass 20,000 lumens, and delivering superior image quality at a lower price point.
Barco Escape: One of the premium auditoriums now features Barco Escape, which offers a three-screen, panoramic movie format for the ultimate immersive cinema experience. This unique design lets moviegoers discover more of the story during the most epic and visually stunning moments of the films. Additionally, a recent four-week run of Star Trek shown on Barco Escape doubled the theater’s revenue compared to a similar run of a movie shown in the traditional one-screen auditorium.
Immersive Sound: Multiple auditoriums now include the most advanced immersive sound technology from Barco and Auro technologies, allowing the moviegoer to feel completely surrounded by the most natural and life-like auditory experience possible.
“We are proud to welcome Barco’s exciting technology into our theater, and we’re confident it will not only ‘wow’ our guests and keep them coming back for more, but also help us maximize overall efficiencies and business operations,” said Greg Dunn, President and Chief Operating Officer for Regal. “Barco is an innovative partner who has truly mastered the art of laser projection technology. We look forward to growing our relationship and bringing our immersive cinema concept to greater and greater heights to the benefit of our guests.”
Recent surveys show that audiences are indeed acknowledging the premium cinema quality Barco’s laser technology provides. When asked to rate the image quality of Flagship Laser projection, more than half of the respondents gave the top score of 5/5. This premium experience also has a positive effect on the patrons’ cinema visit frequency; 2 out of 3 moviegoers stated that laser projection would make them go to the movies more often.
In addition to offering moviegoers the ultimate visual cinematic experience, Barco’s laser technology is also reducing costs and improving overall business excellence at Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center. Both the Barco Flagship laser projector and the Laser Phosphor models eliminate all lamp-related costs and maintenance associated with traditional xenon lamps, improving operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The newly installed, fully DCI-compliant Laser Phosphor projectors include a superior sealed light engine and liquid cooling system, which extends the service life of the laser phosphor source to 30,000 hours at 50 percent light output. Its superior optical efficiency is significantly higher than lamp-based projectors, resulting in a 50 percent energy cost savings and simplified operation.
Additionally, the theater has also been able to reduce its carbon footprint and improve its environmental efforts. Thanks to the Barco Lobby Experience, the theater no longer uses cardboard standees from movie studios and instead plays the content directly on the highly interactive, digital displays in the Lobby Domination.
“We are honored to partner with Regal as they champion the cutting-edge of cinema entertainment by leveraging our unique CinemaBarco experience, which transports customers on an immersive journey throughout the theater,” comments Wim Buyens, Senior Vice President of Entertainment. “We expect great things for this forward-thinking exhibitor, from increasing visitors and brand loyalty to experiencing smoother, more cost-effective operations, and we’re excited to help empower this exciting future.”
