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Marketplace Events Acquires 2 Shows from Colorado Garden Foundation
27 Jun, 05:14 PM
CLEVELAND, Ohio – June 27, 2025: Marketplace Events (MPE), North America’s largest business-to-consumer show producer, today announced the expansion of their Colorado business with the acquisition of the Colorado Garden & Home Show and the Fall Home Show, which both run at the Colorado Convention Center, from the nonprofit Colorado Garden Foundation.
"The deal in Denver is one we have anticipated for decades and to finally see it come together is incredibly rewarding," explained Mark White, CEO of Marketplace Events. "There are very few large 9-day shows with this history and reputation remaining in the US, and we are thrilled to add it to our ever-expanding Marketplace Events portfolio." The 67-year-old Garden and Home Show is the Rocky Mountain region’s largest and most prestigious event with more than 500 exhibitors and more than 40,000 annual attendees. The smaller fall edition, launched in 2009, attracts 200 exhibitors and 3,000-5,000 attendees each year.
"Joining forces with Marketplace Events means we can build on our legacy with greater resources, fresh ideas and expanded reach, ensuring our shows remain Colorado’s premier garden and home events," explained Jim Fricke, Executive Director of the Colorado Garden Foundation. "For more than 65 years, the shows have allowed us to give back more than $13 million through horticultural grants and scholarships that touch lives all across Colorado, from healing gardens and greenhouses to scholarships that launch careers in horticulture and sustainability. Selling to Marketplace Events will allow the Foundation to further build on that legacy while maintaining the shows' excellence we have all come to rely on," said Fricke.
Marketplace Events already operates the successful Denver Home Show which currently runs (and will continue to operate) March 20-22, 2026 at the National Western Complex, as well as the Denver Christmas and Colorado Springs Christmas shows both in November.
"For years we have had to say that Denver was the only market in which we did not own the #1 home show since the Colorado Garden Show was larger and better attended," explained White. "With this acquisition, Marketplace Events now owns the top show in all 51 markets in which we operate," he continued. "We have seen much success operating multiple shows annually in our best markets like Denver and look forward to continue growing the exhibit base and attendance at all five of our shows in the Colorado market."
The Denver Shows will be operated under Regional Vice President Dave Maughan who oversees 13 shows for MPE in Denver, Salt Lake City, Tucson, Houston and San Antonio. Show Manager on the shows will be Lupe Merino, a veteran show manager who joined MPE in 2013. Longtime exhibit sales consultant on the Denver shows Taylor Boerstler has joined Marketplace Events to continue her role on these shows, and Jim Fricke will remain as a consultant through the first Marketplace Events-produced show in February 2026.
For information on the Denver shows contact Taylor Boerstler at TaylorB@MPEShows.com or Lupe Merino at (801) 456-7487 or LupeM@MPEShows.com.
Nick Curci of Corporate Solutions in Westport, Connecticut was the exclusive advisor to Colorado Garden Show, Inc. in arranging, structuring and negotiating this transaction.
"The deal in Denver is one we have anticipated for decades and to finally see it come together is incredibly rewarding," explained Mark White, CEO of Marketplace Events. "There are very few large 9-day shows with this history and reputation remaining in the US, and we are thrilled to add it to our ever-expanding Marketplace Events portfolio." The 67-year-old Garden and Home Show is the Rocky Mountain region’s largest and most prestigious event with more than 500 exhibitors and more than 40,000 annual attendees. The smaller fall edition, launched in 2009, attracts 200 exhibitors and 3,000-5,000 attendees each year.
"Joining forces with Marketplace Events means we can build on our legacy with greater resources, fresh ideas and expanded reach, ensuring our shows remain Colorado’s premier garden and home events," explained Jim Fricke, Executive Director of the Colorado Garden Foundation. "For more than 65 years, the shows have allowed us to give back more than $13 million through horticultural grants and scholarships that touch lives all across Colorado, from healing gardens and greenhouses to scholarships that launch careers in horticulture and sustainability. Selling to Marketplace Events will allow the Foundation to further build on that legacy while maintaining the shows' excellence we have all come to rely on," said Fricke.
Marketplace Events already operates the successful Denver Home Show which currently runs (and will continue to operate) March 20-22, 2026 at the National Western Complex, as well as the Denver Christmas and Colorado Springs Christmas shows both in November.
"For years we have had to say that Denver was the only market in which we did not own the #1 home show since the Colorado Garden Show was larger and better attended," explained White. "With this acquisition, Marketplace Events now owns the top show in all 51 markets in which we operate," he continued. "We have seen much success operating multiple shows annually in our best markets like Denver and look forward to continue growing the exhibit base and attendance at all five of our shows in the Colorado market."
The Denver Shows will be operated under Regional Vice President Dave Maughan who oversees 13 shows for MPE in Denver, Salt Lake City, Tucson, Houston and San Antonio. Show Manager on the shows will be Lupe Merino, a veteran show manager who joined MPE in 2013. Longtime exhibit sales consultant on the Denver shows Taylor Boerstler has joined Marketplace Events to continue her role on these shows, and Jim Fricke will remain as a consultant through the first Marketplace Events-produced show in February 2026.
For information on the Denver shows contact Taylor Boerstler at TaylorB@MPEShows.com or Lupe Merino at (801) 456-7487 or LupeM@MPEShows.com.
Nick Curci of Corporate Solutions in Westport, Connecticut was the exclusive advisor to Colorado Garden Show, Inc. in arranging, structuring and negotiating this transaction.
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