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This Just In

Champion Completes a Second Acquisition in the Event Field

JOAN MATHER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Boston, MA – When Champion Exposition Services acquired The Colonnade Group last month, it signaled the general service contractor’s entry into an entirely different market arena.

The Colonnade Group provides service for major hospitality events for corporations at sports classics including The Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup, Byron Nelson Golf Classic and the FedEx St. Jude Classic, to name just a few. It also services hospitality suites and skyboxes for alumni and corporate groups for the Southeastern Conference intercollegiate athletics, including the University of Alabama, Louisiana State University, the University of Mississippi and others. Colonnade’s services include VIP pickup, security, food and beverage, etc.

Jane Hynes, Director of Marketing, says this was a compelling acquisition because it harmonizes with the “service without limits” offered by Champion. “Although it’s a different avenue than trade shows, it complements what we already offer because it really is about providing services to an event,” Hynes says.

Colonnade will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Champion. All Colonnade personnel will be retained, including Robbie Robertson, Founder & CEO of the 14-year-old firm. Robertson will work with Mark Epstein, Champion’s  President & CEO. Champion, which was founded in 1986, currently provides exposition services for more than 400 trade shows annually.

A Second Acquisition

At the same time, Champion announced the acquisition of all the assets of Event Technical Services (ETS), a Los Angeles-based supplier of temporary support equipment, such as scaffolding, flooring, stages, power and lighting, sanitation facilities, and air conditioning and heating. Epstein adds that, “There’s a synergy at work, with Colonnade complementing ETS and creating a full turn-key operation for clients.”

Reach Mark Epstein, President & CEO, at (508) 946-8500; Mark.Epstein@championexpo.com, or Jane Hynes, Director of Marketing, at (508) 923-5257; Jane.Hynes@championexpo.com.

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