Talk:England fans watch match in cinema

Notes from talking to people aftewards
Amanda, from London: short, wanted good view, no jostling. fabulous atmosphere, community feel. thought commentary was odd, not like tv - no reporting of other match.

Sian, Laura, Caio, London: thought it was good idea, big screen, excellent picture quality, no comparison to watching normal films...

Press Release
Can't find this online so copied and pasted below:

ODEON CINEMAS TO SCREEN LIVE WORLD CUP 2006 MATCHES Cinema chain first in the UK to broadcast in High Definition format Odeon Cinemas today announce that they will be the first cinema operator in the UK to exhibit the 2006 World Cup Matches in High Definition Television (HDTV) format. This means that football fans in major cities across the country will be able to view the tournament on the big screen, and benefit from an incredibly sharp image and enhanced audio quality, making the experience as close as possible to being just as if you were there. The cinema chain intends to show all games in which England are involved, as well as the quarter and semi-final matches, 3rd place play-offs and the final, meaning at least 11 matches will be screened throughout the tournament. Fans will be able to watch the games at 14 cinemas across the country, including the prestigious 1,679 seat auditorium at Odeon Leicester Square as well as other major sites including Manchester Printworks, Bath and Newcastle Silverlink. The cinema chain has invested £150,000 in the new technology, and will make 45,000 tickets available nationwide. The games will be broadcast by leading HD company Euro1080. The investment in this groundbreaking new technology is a logical progression for the cinema chain, who were the first to offer screenings of the preceding 2002 World Cup using digital projection, and illustrates their commitment to offering cinema-goers alternative digital programming. Since installing digital projection, Odeon has offered cinema-goers a diverse range of events including the live broadcast of pop concerts and other sporting events. Previous HD projects at Odeon have included concerts by artists Robbie Williams and Elton John. The cinema chain plans to continue to programme a variety of entertainment events in cinemas going forward.

“At Odeon we are fascinated by new technology and as market leaders, we strive to offer cinema-goers the highest quality audio and visual experience currently available,” comments Luke Vetere, Marketing Director at Odeon. “For us, offering films is just one part of the cinema experience and our decision to broadcast the World Cup stems from our ambition to offer guests the chance to watch other events they feel passionate about. We’re excited about the tournament, and hope that watching the games on the big screen, in high definition with hundreds of other England fans will make our cinemas the ultimate venue to watch the match this summer!”

Not just Odeon
This isn't just limited to Odeon cinemas. My local Vue cinema is also showing World Cup matches in HD with free seating.

My local park is also showing the match on big screen to view for free !