• Moviegoers won’t notice a thing except for upgrades to seating and the lobby, said Gary Moore, owner of Premiere Cos.

Rio Rancho – Legacy Church has acquired ownership of the Premiere Theater, according to a church announcement.

The agreement will allow the church to continue services on a permanent basis. However, the movies will still be shown.

The theater will lease part of the facility to show films, according to the statement.

Movies will be “front and center” and the lobby will be modernized, said Gary Moore, owner of the movie theater chain that owned Premiere.

The price was not disclosed.

The Rio Rancho Theater at 1,000 Premiere Parkway was owned by Big Springs, Texas-based Premiere Cos. Moore said residents won’t notice any changes when they come to see the latest movies.

“Films will always be at the center of the complex and its primary function,” he said. “The church only uses the facility part-time, as it always has for its services.”

In fact, he said, the chain on Monday announced upgrades to the Rio Rancho Theater to “luxurious reclining seats.”

“The upgrades come on the heels of Premiere’s 12th anniversary serving the Rio Rancho area,” according to a statement from Premiere.

Premiere recliners feature wide, spacious power recliners with reserved seating. Each seat has its own private swivel table and USB charger. The cinema lobby is also being upgraded with automated ticketing kiosks and all-you-can-eat self-service systems for drinks, popcorn and ICEE.

New D-BOX mobile seats are also installed in some auditoriums for an even more thrilling 4D experience.

Legacy, senior pastor Steve Smothermon said, is “fully invested in Rio Rancho, and now our ownership position reflects that. Rescued people serve people, and this new arrangement will allow us to do even more in the community in the future.

Legacy, which has six locations in New Mexico, had leased space in the theater in recent years with continued growth, Moore said.

Rio Rancho campus pastor Bryan Clampitt said, “The community is strong and we are ready to continue our growth and service to those in need.

Masses are held on Sundays at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Wednesday evening 6:30 p.m.