Cinema United’s Todd Halstead recently joined Cinergy Entertainment Group for the VIP night at its newest and largest project yet: Cinergy Tall City in Midland, Texas. Timed to open alongside the premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the 98,000-square-foot cinema entertainment center is built for shared experiences. What was once a long-closed movie theatre is now a vibrant cinema entertainment center that’s creating more than 180 new jobs and marking a real investment in this West Texas community.
Cinema At The Center
Cinergy co-founders Jeff and Jamie Benson have long said cinema is the foundation of the company’s growth, and that philosophy is at the heart of the building. Cinergy Tall City features six luxury dine-in auditoriums with recliner seating, laser projection, and premium sound. Two of the screens are equipped with 4K RGB laser projection and Dolby Atmos, showing a strong commitment to presentation, led by David Zylstra, Director of Theatre Technology. Movies aren’t an afterthought here. They’re the anchor.
Beyond the Screens
Outside the auditoriums, the venue opens into a full entertainment destination. Cinergy Tall City features:
- 11 lanes of boutique bowling
- Four escape rooms
- A sprawling arcade with more than 80 games (with plans to reach 100 next year)
- A full sports bar anchored by a massive projection wall that turns game day into a shared event.
The center’s layout is flexible, with private event rooms and adaptable spaces that can handle everything from birthday parties to corporate events, fundraisers, and community gatherings. It’s a good example of how cinemas are expanding what they offer while keeping movies front and center. As Jeff put it, Tall City was built to deliver the kind of big screen impact and entertainment experiences people usually have to travel hours to find.
A Team Effort
The VIP night was also a reminder that projects like this don’t come together without teamwork. The Bensons surprised Kathi Gillman, Vice President of Construction and Capital Asset Purchasing, with a championship belt in recognition of her work overseeing the project to completion. Kathi worked closely with colleagues like CTO Bill Radtke, Vice President of Operations Todd Maunsell and design-build partner ARCO Murray to make the venue a reality.
A Win for Midland
The team’s hands-on approach extended to the night itself. COO Darek Heath jumped behind the bar to channel his best Cocktail-era Tom Cruise, while Rich Schwarte, President and CFO, engaged guests and gave tours, and Jordan Michael, head of Box Office & Guest Experience, helped keep the event moving. Chief Marketing Officer Traci Hanlon summed it up well, calling Cinergy Tall City the company’s most dynamic and immersive location yet, one where every element, from elevated dining to next-generation attractions, was designed with guest experience in mind.
Local leaders were equally enthusiastic. Midland District One City Council representative Brian Stubbs joined the event and spoke about how Cinergy Tall City reflects the kind of public-private partnership that supports the city’s goals around economic growth and quality of life. He pointed to developments like this as part of the bigger picture, alongside schools, parks, and neighborhoods, when people decide where they want to live, work, and raise families.
Looking Ahead
Cinergy’s roots in Midland run deep. The company opened its original Midland location in 2013, a project that exceeded expectations and helped fuel its national growth. Since then, Cinergy has expanded to 10 cinema entertainment centers across four states, totaling 82 screens, and was named Top Family Entertainment Center of the World by IAAPA.
And Tall City isn’t done growing. Cinergy Speedway Extreme Karting, a 45,000-square-foot expansion, is already underway and scheduled to open in spring 2026. Featuring multi-level electric kart racing and dedicated spectator viewing areas, it shows Cinergy’s continued push to raise the bar on what cinema entertainment centers can be.
As Cinema United continues visiting exhibitors across the country, Cinergy Tall City stands out as a strong example of how movie theaters can energize the communities they serve.
