Episode 143: Why Vancouver's Rio Theatre became a sports bar
Last month, Vancouver's Rio Theatre updated its marquee with a bold declaration: “Screw the Arts: We’re a sports bar now.” The Rio had been closed since November 2020, when the Provincial Health Officer banned all events (while still allowing bars, malls, and restaurants to operate) – but on January 23, 2021, the Rio opened its doors for sports fans to watch hockey and whatever qualifies as sports on its big screen: socially distanced, and not operating at full capacity, but open nonetheless. In this revealing episode, Sabrina gets a download from the Rio Theatre’s – sorry: Rio Sports Bar’s – CEO Corinne Lea and Senior Programmer Rachel Fox about what they’re doing, why they’re doing it, and what we all stand to lose when the rules aren’t enforced fairly.
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This episode of the YVR Screen Scene Podcast is sponsored by Fish Flight Entertainment. http://www.fishflightentertainment.com.
RELATED LINKS
http://riotheatre.ca/
https://riotheatretickets.ca/
https://www.change.org/p/treat-cinemas-fairly-bc-restaurants-and-bars-are-open-why-aren-t-cinemas?
SOCIAL MEDIA
https://twitter.com/RioTheatre
https://www.instagram.com/riotheatre/
https://www.facebook.com/TheRioTheatre
https://twitter.com/shamelesslee
https://twitter.com/Foxme
http://www.facebook.com/yvrscreenscene
http://www.instagram.com/yvrscreenscene
http://www.twitter.com/sabrinarmf
CREDITS
Host and executive producer: Sabrina Furminger
Editor: Simon Furminger
Producer: Paul Furminger
Patreon ad reader: Mariana Furminger
Original music: Dane Deviller