CLEVELAND, Ohio – March 15, 2021:  Marketplace Events (MPE) announced today that it has secured dates at NRG Park in Houston for the launch of annual home shows in February and October, beginning in Spring 2022.  

The addition of these two shows in Houston—the nation’s fourth largest market—alongside the company’s three shows in Austin and two shows in San Antonio, increases their Texas footprint to seven total shows and is the culmination of a multi-year effort to become the preeminent home show producer in Texas.  

“As we begin to see light at the end of a dark COVID tunnel, the time is now for our industry to look forward to what can be gained, not backward to what was lost.  Our commitment to launching new, upgraded home shows at NRG Park in 2022 is the first of many steps Marketplace Events is taking across North America to do exactly that,” explained Tom Baugh, CEO of Marketplace Events.  “Houston is a huge market and deserving of dynamic home shows reflecting the city’s influence and importance,” he continued.  “It’s an exciting opportunity for MPE.  We’re ready to deliver great shows to our customers and the Houston community for many years to come.”

The Houston Shows will be managed by Dave Maughan, Group Manager at Marketplace Events since 2016 who also oversees shows in Salt Lake City and Denver.  For information on the new Houston Shows email Dave at DaveM@MarketplaceEevents.com.

The announcement coincides with the company’s highly successful restart of its show portfolio with the Johnson County Home + Garden Show (March 5-7) in suburban Kansas City.  This was MPE’s first show since March 2020; in the intervening period the company had been forced to cancel or postpone 77 shows.  “Attendance, sales and customer satisfaction metrics all exceeded MPE’s expectations” said Baugh. “Running the first MPE show in a year was stressful but invigorating.  It was important to provide solid ROI to our exhibitors and I believe we delivered on that. Homeowners came in larger numbers than anticipated and were definitely ready to buy.”  

Next up, MPE will run shows in Des Moines, Oklahoma City, Raleigh and San Antonio.  The company intends to run about a dozen events between March and June 2021, with hopes for a full slate of events in the Fall of 2021.  “We will operate events only when we can do so safely and when we are confident the resulting show experience will provide significant value,” said Baugh.  “Local, state and provincial safety requirements vary across our North American markets.  The returning shows are where protocols and common sense align. We know from our homeowner and exhibitor surveys both groups are enthusiastic for shows to safely restart.  We’re not going to rush it, but we are ready to get back to business where conditions allow.”

Marketplace Events is operating with a reduced workforce after the company experienced significant layoffs last year. “Losing so many talented and loyal people through no fault of their own was unbearable,” explained Baugh.  “But we kept 100% intact our entire management core, protecting our promise and obligation to our customers that our shows will not only continue, but grow post-pandemic.  Our intent is to rehire as quickly as possible to aggressively rebuild our business.  We are looking forward to reengaging with our customers.”

Once able to fully restart, the Marketplace Events portfolio will still include more than 70 events in 33 markets.  For a list of shows scheduled to run in 2021 visit marketplaceevents.com/our-shows.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shelly Gepfert, VP Marketing
ShellyG@MarketplaceEvents.com | 828.275.7646