Press release: NORWALK, CT (AUGUST 16, 2016) – LeftField Media today announced it has been acquired by Urban Expositions, a Clarion Events Company. LeftField is a Norwalk-based event organizer with a growing portfolio of consumer events focused on passionate communities around the US, and it now joins the family of Clarion Events. The acquisition will provide LeftField increased capital and infrastructure, while offering Urban Expositions new expertise and market reach in B2C events.
LeftField Media was started in 2014 by New York Comic Con founder Greg Topalian and the senior leadership at Business Journals Inc., 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 tradeshow 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.
Clarion, the largest independent event organizer in the UK, operates over 200 events in 20 countries. It entered the US market in 2015 through acquiring majority ownership of the Georgia-based Urban Expositions. LeftField further amplifies Urban Expositions’ and Clarion’s reach in the world of consumer events in the US. LeftField with Clarion backing looks to announce new events and the expansion of its current shows in the coming months. This expansion will complement the existing consumer events currently operating across the Urban and Clarion business, which include SOFA Chicago, The Classic Auto Show, Destinations, and The Classic Motor Show to name a few
About LeftField Media, LLC
LeftField Media, LLC is an events company focused on developing face-to-face events in a range of communities rooted in contemporary culture and shared passion. LeftField Media was formed in partnership in 2014 by Greg Topalian (President, LeftField Media), and is now owned by Topalian and Clarion Events Ltd. With a keen sense of the ever-evolving needs of the industry, as well as the new opportunities created by change, LeftField Media takes a clean slate approach to the business. 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. LeftField Media is headquartered in historic South Norwalk, CT.
About Urban Expositions
Based in Kennesaw, GA, and founded in 1995, Urban Expositions, a Clarion Events Company, produces and manages a portfolio of 36 events. Urban serves nine industry sectors including Gift, Souvenir, Art, Apparel, Halloween, Foodservice, Pet and Gaming. Urban also produces Airport Revenue News, a publication focused on the airport concession industry. Urban has offices in Shelton, CT, and Boca Raton, FL, and is represented by employees in California, Colorado and Illinois. www.urban-expo.com.
About Clarion Events
Clarion Events operates over 200 events in 35 countries from offices in the UK, South Africa, USA, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, UAE, Turkey, and the Netherlands. Clarion can trace its roots back to 1947 and takes great pride in being one of the oldest independent event organizers in the UK. The teams at Clarion create uniquely effective and stimulating environments that can serve as a platform to build businesses, enhance customer relationships and accelerate product awareness. www.clarionevents.com.