This week our own Joe Roche takes a look at what it’s like to watch a prizefight in a movie theater after his experience doing just that for Mayweather-Mosley.
This past Saturday night I went to the movie theater.
I bought some popcorn.
I had a couple of beers.
And I sat back in a theater to witness a stunning turn of events. No I didn’t go see The Human Centipede, and while I do believe that the description fits I regret to inform you that I wasn’t sitting at Furry Vengeance. You see in the theater that I spent Saturday night in the screen showed the villain in the black hat stand tall at the end. It was as if I went to see The Dark Knight except the ending was replaced by the Joker blowing up a boat full of civilians while Batman stood watching unable to pull himself together to score another victory for good over evil.
By now I imagine you’ve all come to the conclusion that on Saturday night I watched Mayweather-Mosley on the big screen. As part of the NCM Fathom agreement with Golden Boy Promotions I was fortunate enough to get a ticket to the fight screening in Millbury, Massachusetts at the Blackstone De Lux Cinema 14, and I must say that it was an interesting experience. As I’m incredibly busy this week with work I thought in lieu of recapping a fight that has already generated thousands of words, and in stead of giving you my helpful insight on Cintron-Williams (Kermit catches the Punisher and scores the “upset”) I instead will give you a look behind the veil of what watching a fight at the movie theater is really like.
My biggest fear heading into the theater was that there would be no beer. This was seemingly an unjustified fear because on the one hand there was plenty of beer ? the movie theater had an usher in the theater with a table set up for patrons to purchase an iced cold adult themed beverage, but on the other hand I never actually had a beer, in hindsight this was a stupid fear to have ? given the outcome. Actually the whole concession issue was handled well by the theater as theater employees were on hand to take orders and deliver food/drinks to your seat during the fight ? for whatever reason heading into the theater I had a sneaking suspicion that getting thirsty would cost me at least a round so again crisis averted.
The first thing that I noticed upon walking into the theater was that this couldn’t possibly be a big money making idea. When the opening bout began there was four people in the theater ? and that’s not an exaggeration. The crowd began to fill in as the card wore on and by the time the main event kicked off the place was pretty rowdy and pretty full. Now whether the people who came in to the theater for the main event had actually paid for the ticket, or if they were coming off after Nightmare on Elm Street ended is not my concern ? they were there when Mosley and Mayweather entered the ring so it gave some life to the venue.
Here’s my problem with the whole “boxing pay per view in a movie theater” idea ? even when the theater was full it felt like I was watching the fight alone. There were some conversations going on between rounds, the fight fan in front of me was a cool older guy who was very knowledgeable (knew a surprising amount about Daniel Ponce De Leon) so it was a pleasure to be talking to him. However, the theater lights were down, and you’re still in a movie theater so there was a very strange vibe in the theater. I mean when Michael Buffer delivered his world famous (and copyrighted) catch phrase there was applause in the room which felt awkward ? almost like the feeling you get when someone claps in church.
One of the great things about ordering the fight at my house is that I can invite my friends over, we can have a cookout, and we can have some beers, smoke some cigars and socialize throughout the fight. Hell the undercard becomes an adventure when you watch a fight at home (or in a bar) because everyone is whooping it up, you’re cracking jokes, you’re busting on the fighters, you’re making side wagers — basically you’re having fun. But does anyone watch the fights at home, with your friends with the lights off? Of course not because as soon as you turn the lights down everyone calms down ? and who the hell wants to be calm during the biggest prizefight of the year (maybe the decade)? This is the biggest problem with movie theater boxing pay per views ? it just doesn’t feel fun.
The screen is awesome.
The sound is awesome.
The food is fine, and drinks are available for a nominal fee.
The atmosphere sucks ? and frankly if the atmosphere sucks the rest of this stuff is just filler.
The fact is that I’m glad I went to see Mayweather-Mosley on the big screen, it was an experience that I had never had before and I can now check it off my list ? but I’m not sure it’s something that I’ll be doing again. Granted there are arguments in favor of the movie theater, the best and most convincing one being that if you are a lonely person with no friends or family to watch the fight with then you’d save yourself some dough by going to the theater to watch the fight. When prizefights like the one we saw last Saturday cost $65 for the HD broadcast then I can see how a movie theater ticket would be preferable.
At one time seeing a prizefight on a closed circuit broadcast was the only way to do it ? and people would head to the Boston Garden (or a similar venue) to watch the fight on the “big screen” with 10,000 of their closest friends. But those days are long since passed bye and I’m not sure they’re ever coming back. Even a single person who thinks of going to the movie theater to buy a ticket, a soda/beer and some popcorn is looking at a $30 and up expense and when you factor in the idea that once the fight is over you’re not actually at your house and ready for bed you have to assume that it’s a big leap to head to the theater instead of staying in the comfort of your own home.
That’s not to say that it was a complete failure ? I actually had a good time. Watching the fight with complete strangers was a trip because you got the dichotomy of the fight fan with half the room cheering for Shane and half the room cheering for Mayweather. It did create an interesting vibe in the room and I must say as someone who was particularly vehement in his belief that Mayweather was going to romp Mosley I got a big anxious in my seat in the second round. When you have a row of strangers telling you how stupid you are as the fighter you backed on multiple websites and podcasts is flailing around trying to keep his balance ? well it’s a humbling feeling to say the least.
At the night end of the night I left the movie theater feeling a mixed bag of emotions. On the one hand I had enjoyed the evening. I got to see a great fight between two future hall of famers, the fight went down almost exactly as I had predicted, and the big screen and dolby surround sound was much better then my 42 inch HD TV and non-dolby surround sound system would have been. But there is something special about watching a fight in an atmosphere more conducive to communication, trash talking, and revelry in the fight ? and those things are missing at the movie theater.
Was it a great experience? No. Was it something that I’d ever do again? Probably not ? but was it something that I was glad that I did? Of course ? but when Pacquiao and Mayweather step into the ring you better believe that I’ll be on my couch with an iced cold adult themed beverage in my hand and some side wagers on my mind.
