by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Another option is available for local college football fans who can’t afford the time or the money to see the FedEx BCS National Championship game in Miami Jan. 8.
The Carmike Amelia Island 7 Cinema, in Fernandina Beach, will host the first screening of a live college football game in 3-D for the national championship between the Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners.
“We currently have one theater equipped to show the game in 3-D,” said Devon Menendez, assistant manager and projectionist at the theater. “We may look into getting another theater equipped depending on the response we get from customers.”
Employees of the theater haven’t been able to tell customers much since Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. announced on Dec. 16 that it would partner with Sony, FOX Sports and 3ality Digital to bring a major sporting event to its digitally enabled movie theaters.
“The first we heard of it was when the news story came out,” said Menendez. “We’ve been getting a lot of calls, but we haven’t had a lot of answers until now.”
Tickets went on sale at 11:45 a.m. yesterday and the price was estimated at $20 each. The theater that is equipped to show digital images in 3-D seats about 150, as does the possible second theater.
“The news story really got people excited,” said Nancy Setinsek, cashier at the theater. “I had people asking me in church about when tickets were going to be available.”
There have been tests of the 3-D transmission technology prior to this event, but this will be the first time the public will be able to gain access to the screening. The football game will be followed by a 3-D edition of the NBA All-Star game on Feb. 14.
The broadcast will take place in markets in 35 states. The closest markets outside of Jacksonville are in Bradenton, Fl., and Savannah, Ga.
How to get there
Carmike Amelia Island 7
1132 South 14th St.
Fernandina Beach
(the lights on the outside of the building read “Cinema 7”)
~ Take I-95 North toward the airport
~ Turn off at exit 373 for Hwy. 200/A1A
~ Head toward Fernandina Beach/Callahan for about 13 miles
~ Turn right on Sadler Road
~ At the next light (there are no street signs) turn right
~ Follow South 14th Street for about a mile and Cinema 7 is on the right at the corner of the Amelia Island Eight Flags Shopping Center.
356-2466