Urban Expositions, a Clarion Events Company, has acquired US organiser LeftField Media, the company behind Play Fair and Awesome Con.
The acquisition will provide LeftField increased capital and infrastructure, while offering Urban Expositions new expertise and market reach in B2C events.
“From the beginning we knew LeftField Media would be a success in the marketplace and it certainly has demonstrated that since its inception,” said LeftField founder Britton Jones. “Urban Expositions and Clarion Events are well appointed to provide a strong platform to further excel the growth of the LeftField Media business.”
Simon Kimble, executive chairman at Clarion, added: “While Clarion and LeftField look very different in size, we share a common philosophy. We both build successful, dynamic, and creative businesses, and we value an entrepreneurial spirit. We’re excited to foster this further at LeftField and jointly build new businesses.”
The current team at LeftField will continue to operate the business, with Clarion bolstering LeftField Media’s ability to rapidly launch, acquire, and grow new events.
LeftField Media was started in 2014 by New York Comic Con founder Greg Topalian and the senior leadership at Business Journals, Britton Jones, Mac Brighton, and Sharon Enright. Clarion’s deal involves it buying out the shares of Jones, Brighton, and Enright, with Topalian continuing onboard as minority owner of the company and president.
“From the beginning we knew LeftField Media would be a success in the marketplace and it certainly has demonstrated that since its inception” said Britton Jones. “Urban Expositions and Clarion Events are well appointed to provide a strong platform to further excel the growth of the LeftField Media business.”
“LeftField Media’s seen incredible growth in under two years, and I’m very proud of the events and relationships we’ve developed,” Topalian said. “I’m excited now to see what we can do with the resources and confidence of a global event organizer at our back. I’m deeply impressed by the team at Urban Expositions and Clarion and look forward to what we’ll build together.”
“While Clarion and LeftField look very different in size, we share a common philosophy,” Simon Kimble Executive Chairman at Clarion said. “We both build successful, dynamic, and creative businesses, and we value an entrepreneurial spirit. We’re excited to foster this further at LeftField and jointly build new businesses.”
LeftField’s portfolio includes Play Fair (playfairny.com) – a family-focused celebration of toys and play built with the Toy Industry Association and brands including LEGO, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, Mattel, and Cartoon Network – as well as Awesome Con (awesomecon.com) – Washington DC’s Comic Con, which saw over 55% growth this year, drawing more than 50,000 fans and partners such as Science Channel, NASA, and the Smithsonian.
Topalian’s team at LeftField, a group of trade show veterans and knowledgeable fans from the communities it serves, will continue to operate the business, with Clarion bolstering LeftField Media’s ability to rapidly launch, acquire, and grow new events.
