San Francisco Movie Theaters to Remain Closed Due to Ban on

NATO says it’s “economically impossible” to reopen with out them

While San Francisco Mayor London Breed has allowed film theaters within the county to reopen with out promoting concessions, theater house owners say they may stay closed as a result of that makes reopening “economically impossible.”

The California/Nevada department of the National Association of Theater Owners mentioned in a press release on Wednesday that its members unanimously agreed to stay closed in San Francisco, saying that promoting popcorn and different concessions is vital for theaters to show a revenue. While theaters cut up field workplace income roughly evenly with studios, they make an estimated 80% revenue on popcorn, meals and beverage gross sales. According to knowledge from NATO, concessions accounted for an estimated $5.6 billion in income for theaters in 2018.

NATO additionally criticized a perceived double commonplace for theaters as the town has allowed indoor eating at eating places. “While we respect and thank Mayor Breed for her decision to allow movie theaters to reopen, the restrictions in place present an insurmountable financial challenge for our members to do so and are preventing thousands of workers from returning to work,” mentioned Milton Moritz, president and CEO of NATO of CA/NV. “Our members have taken the steps to meet or exceed expert-backed health and safety measures, and we ask that the city reconsider its reopening plan so our theaters can, once again, serve our San Francisco community.”

San Francisco has progressed to the third of 4 reopening tiers in California’s COVID-19 reopening plan, which might permit theaters to boost the capability restrict of its auditoriums to 50%. The surrounding Bay Area counties, in addition to Orange and San Diego Counties in Southern California, are at the moment on the second tier, which limits theater capability to 25%. Los Angeles County, which mixed with New York City can account for as much as 20% of a movie’s home field workplace, continues to be on the bottom tier and has theaters closed other than drive-ins.

While 70% of U.S. film theaters had been in a position to reopen final month, September field workplace grosses fell 90% year-over-year, among the many highest drops for main field workplace markets which have reopened for the reason that begin of the pandemic. Following MGM’s choice to maneuver “No Time to Die” to 2021, Regal Cinemas introduced that it might indefinitely shut all its places this Thursday, although fellow nationwide chains AMC and Cinemark say they may keep open in areas the place well being officers allow.