Everyone's talking about small screens -- what it's like to watch movies on mobile devices like cell phones and iPods. Mark Cuban's musings about the Olympics and The Dark Knight, however, lead him in the opposite direction:

Of course it would also not be a stretch to place the biggest screens in existence in open air locations where huge gatherings and related events can take place. Would families pay 50 bucks for a day of Olympics fun outside on 100 acres? Olympicsalooza anyone ? Why should it be any different than all the events that take place SuperBowl, or NBA or MLB All Star weekends ? Make it a huge party. In 100 cities across the country.

Could you sell 20mm tickets to attend out of home Olympic events at an average of 20 bucks each ? That's 400mm minus the cut to the theaters, locations, etc of 50pct, or 200mm. Plus of course there is all the non stop advertising that will be built into all of these events. On screen, at stadium/field/farm/theater.........

NBC proved that the Olympics can still be a communal event in the USA. Dark Knight proved that if enough people get excited about the same event, if you make it a special event, they will leave their homes to see it. Sports leagues have done an amazing job of building specialty events around the main event. Could technical advances in large stadium screens be a tipping point in the economics and presentation of the Olympics ?

How big can a screen be in 2016 and at what price ? Why not a panoramic emerssive experience in the new Cowboys stadium ? Or a 10 story tall 3D presentation of Olympics Basketball in the American Airlines Arena ? 20k or 50k or 100k people screaming U-S-A and watching on a screen that makes you feel as ifyou were there, is that worth 20 bucks ?

# posted by Scott Macaulay @ 8/27/2008 12:21:00 AM

Comments (2)

 
Great idea! And why not extend the idea even further, like towards true independent films going on tour like rock bands have done for ages? The profit on one super venue alone can possibly pay for the total cost of production.
# posted by  giapvu @ 8/27/2008 4:41 PM  

 
I think giapvu's notion is great. But these are big ideas by big people with big pockets...and they want bigger pockets. It's all about big consumerism, not art.
# posted by  Danny @ 8/28/2008 9:03 AM  

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