RCCC was started in 2011 by Ron and Paula Brister, and last year the convention attracted attendance of over 42,000. The show will move from two to three days for 2017 as one outcome of the new tie-up.
Leftfield has been expanding rapidly in the last year, adding a new show focusing on designer toys and comic art as well as launching Anime NYC this fall (see “LeftField Media News Round-Up”). LeftField’s portfolio also includes Awesome Con and Play Fair.
Portland is a growing hub for the comics business, with IDW (see “IDW Opening Office in Portland”), Image (see “Image Comics Moving to Portland”), and the CBLDF (see “CBLDF Holds Moving Sale”) opening there in the last year, joining long-time resident companies Dark Horse Comics and Oni Press, and more recent arrival Heavy Metal. That may be one explanation for LeftField’s interest in the market, which is the #23 market in the U.S. by population.