Regal Cinemas Selling Fewer Seats to Minimize COVID-19 Exposure
UPDATE: Regal Cinemas announced on Tuesday that all theaters will be closed until further notice.
This news should make moviegoers feel better.
Regal Cinemas has announced it will be selling fewer seats at its theaters to minimize close contact between customers. They will be filling theatres to 50% capacity. For example, if a theater seats 500, they will only sell 250 seats.
While you're still going to be relatively close to other people, especially if they have sold the maximum amount of tickets, this at least provides the possibility of keeping a little distance between yourself and the person next to you.
Some movie patrons might be motivated to move down to those seats way upfront that people tend to avoid. And now, with the reserved seating at Regal, there may be an advantage to buying your tickets late so you can strategically choose your seats away from other people.
There are some people who are trying to avoid crowds altogether, and I understand that. Some of these people are in a high-risk category and it truly is better to be safe than sorry. Others are continuing on in normal fashion, perhaps, though, being more vigilant with their handwashing and sanitizing.
Whichever group you are in, perhaps this news will provide some comfort and encouragement to go ahead and enjoy that next movie on the big screen with a large bucket of popcorn - six feet away from the nearest patron.