Press Releases

CLEVELAND, Ohio – August 26, 2025:   Marketplace Events (MPE) announced today its acquisition of the Cincinnati Travel, Sport & Boat Show, from Cincinnati Shows, Inc., a division of Renfro Productions.

The Show, which has operated in the market for 66 years and attracts hundreds of exhibitors and tens of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts annually, will next run at the end of January 2026 at the newly renovated Duke Energy Convention Center.

Marketplace Events has retained the experienced management team at Renfro Productions, led by Kevin Renfro, to continue operating the Cincinnati show, drawing on their years of expertise in producing quality consumer outdoor shows. Renfro Productions will continue to own and produce its four successful shows in Indiana.

The Cincinnati Show was previously owned by Hart Productions, Inc., the same company from which Marketplace Events acquired both the home & garden and holiday shows that also run annually at Duke Energy Center.

“Cincinnati has been a tremendous market for us with some of the best-attended shows, anywhere in the US,” said Mark White, CEO of Marketplace Events. “We’re thrilled to finally be able to return to the renovated Duke Energy Center in 2026 and to also add the sport show to our home, garden and holiday shows in this vital market.”

“Marketplace Events is the right owner for the show in Cincinnati as they have a strong foothold in this market. And given the influence that Renfro Productions has in the outdoor consumer tradeshow space in the Midwest region it was a good match to continue to grow this event for Marketplace Events. We look forward to joining forces with Marketplace Events,” explained Kevin Renfro. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shelly Gepfert, CMO | ShellyG@MarketplaceEvents.com | c: 828.275.7646