Cinema City Velký Špalíček

Cinema City Velký Špalíček is a multiplex cinema located inside the Velký Špalíček shopping and entertainment centre in the centre of Brno, Czech Republic. It opened in August 2001 together with the shopping centre and was the first multiplex cinema in the statutory city of Brno. The cinema has seven fully air-conditioned screens with a total capacity of 1,398 seats according to the operator, and it uses Barco projection technology and Dolby audio systems. At the end of 2014 the cinema underwent a complete reconstruction, making it one of Cinema City's most modern multiplexes, with all screens fully digitalised. The cinema is operated by Cinema City Czech Republic, which was founded in the Czech Republic in 1999 and opened its first multiplex, Cinema City Galaxie, in mid-2001. Cinema City Czech Republic is part of the Cineworld PLC Group, an international cinema group operating in ten countries including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Israel, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Ireland and the United States. In the Czech Republic, Cinema City operates twelve multiplexes and one megaplex in seven cities: Prague, Brno, Liberec, Pardubice, Plzeň, Ústí nad Labem and Ostrava. The group is the exclusive operator of IMAX in Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, and offers formats such as IMAX, 4DX and Dolby Atmos at selected locations. The Velký Špalíček cinema itself has changed ownership several times. It originally belonged to Ster Century, which sold it to Palace Cinemas in 2002. Palace Cinemas' cinemas in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia were acquired by Cinema City in 2011. The cinema is located at Mečová 2, 602 00 Brno, within the Velký Špalíček centre, which opened on 1 September 2001 and was designed by Imag Architects. The centre was bought by the Brno Bishopric from Generali Immobilien in November 2020. The cinema offers standard screenings as well as the possibility of renting its halls for private events.

The Velký Špalíček shopping and entertainment centre, which houses the cinema, was built on a site that was part of Brno's medieval urban fabric until it was bombed in 1944 and the buildings demolished. New construction began in 1996–1998, and the centre opened on 1 September 2001. It was designed by Imag Architects. The investor was the company Intercom with international capital, and construction costs reached billions of Czech korunas. The building was controversial at the time, criticised both for the demolition of existing buildings and for the architectural quality of the new structure; a demonstration took place at the ceremonial opening attended by mayor Petr Duchoň. In 2011 the National Heritage Institute described Velký Špalíček as an irreversible loss in its assessment of changes in Brno over the previous 20 years. The multiplex cinema opened together with the shopping centre on 1 September 2001, originally owned by Ster Century. It was the first multiplex in the city of Brno and technically the most advanced cinema in Brno at the time. Before its opening, Brno residents had access to a multiplex at the Olympia shopping and entertainment centre in neighbouring Modřice. In 2002 Ster Century sold the cinema to Palace Cinemas. Palace Cinemas' cinemas in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia were acquired by Cinema City in 2011. The cinema, equipped with Dolby Stereo SR, Dolby Digital and DTS sound systems, has seven fully air-conditioned screens with a total capacity of 1,413 seats according to the Czech Wikipedia article on the centre; the operator's website states a capacity of 1,398 seats. The opening of the multiplex led to the closure of a number of Brno cinemas. The centre has hosted the Noc reklamožroutů advertising showcase several times. At the end of 2014 the cinema underwent a complete reconstruction, making it one of Cinema City's most modern multiplexes. All screens are fully digitalised, and the cinema uses Barco projection technology from the Belgian manufacturer, combined with Dolby audio systems. Cinema City Czech Republic, the operator, was founded in the Czech Republic in 1999 and opened its first multiplex, Cinema City Galaxie, in mid-2001. It is now part of the Cineworld PLC Group, which operates in ten countries and more than 750 multiplexes. In the Czech Republic, Cinema City operates twelve multiplexes and one megaplex in seven cities. The group is the exclusive operator of IMAX in Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, and offers IMAX, 4DX and Dolby Atmos at selected locations, as well as VIP zones combining restaurant and cinema. In November 2020 the Velký Špalíček centre was purchased by the Brno Bishopric from Generali Immobilien.

• 2020

  The Velký Špalíček centre is purchased by the Brno Bishopric from Generali Immobilien in November 2020.

• 2014

  The cinema undergoes a complete reconstruction at the end of 2014, becoming one of Cinema City's most modern multiplexes.

• 2011

  Palace Cinemas' cinemas in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia are acquired by Cinema City.

• 2002

  Ster Century sells the cinema to Palace Cinemas.

• 2001

  Cinema opens together with the Velký Špalíček shopping centre on 1 September 2001, originally owned by Ster Century.

Modern multiplex cinema in central Brno, part of the Cinema City chain.

• Standard film screenings

• 3D screenings

• Private hall rental

• Bar and refreshments

1. 1Program kina Brno Velký Špalíček, OC Velký Špalíčekcinemacity.cz
2. 2O CINEMA CITY ČESKÁ REPUBLIKAcinemacity.cz
3. 3Cinema City Velký Špalíčekwikidata.org
4. 4Velký Špalíčekcs.wikipedia.org