For the first time since the opening in 1993, the Blue Ridge Cinema has raised ticket prices from $1.50 to $2.

The decision to raise the ticket prices was a corporate one according to Stephen Emerson, a manager at the theater. Staff at the cinema was not given any specific reasoning as to why the prices were raised.

“They didn’t give us any reason at all for the price change, unfortunately. I guess that they just decided it was time, since we haven’t raised our prices at all since we opened in 1993,” Emerson said.

The change officially went into effect on Oct. 28. Emerson said that staff was notified about a week before the change went into effect.

There was some concern from staff members that ticket sales would drop due to the increase, but Emerson said that they have not seen any changes in sales.

“We had some small concern about it at first, but ultimately it’s the best and cheapest way to go see a movie in Raleigh,” Emerson said.

Rose Cuomo, a sophomore in arts applications who frequents the Blue Ridge Cinema, does not think that the price raise is a big problem.

“It’s still a really good deal for seeing a pretty recent movie,” Cuomo said.

Cuomo said she believes the raise is so insignificant that attendance at the theater will not drop at all.

“Even though the atmosphere of the theater might not be the most appealing, it’s still a fun experience. A 50 cent difference is not going to make people not want to go,” Cuomo said.

Shannon Vought , a junior in Spanish language and literature, also said her attendance at the theater will not be discouraged due to the price increase. Her only issue with the change is that she will not be able to refer to the theater the same way.

“The only real problem I have with it is that I can’t call it the dollar fifty theater anymore. The two dollar theater just doesn’t sound as good,” Vought said.

Vought said that the 50 cents people got back when the cost was $1.50 was insignificant to most people and will not matter to anyone enough to change their desire of attending the cinema.

While the price increase is technically costing theater-goers more, Vought said that major cinema prices will cause most people to stay loyal to Blue Ridge.

“I’m only going to pay $8 or $9 for a movie that I really want to see, but I can see anything for $2. Sometimes going to the movies isn’t so much about what you’re seeing but the experience of actually going out to the movies,” Vought said.