Townsquare Media canceled the 2015 PANTS show, scheduled for Nov. 4-5, according to a news release issued by the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association (PLNA).
The following message appears on the PANTS website, attributed to Jonathan Levin, director, expos:
It is with sincere regret that we are writing to inform you that the annual Penn Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (PANTS) planned for the Pennsylvania Convention Center on November 4 and 5, has been placed on hiatus. As you know, PANTS had been rescheduled from its original date in July to November and the short notice was inadequate for both the green industry and exhibitor base to make the appropriate and necessary plans for the annual trade show.
MAC Events maintains their firm commitment to the green industry, with the aim to produce best-in-class annual trade shows. The decision to cancel the PANTS event did not come easily and we want to express gratitude to our community of exhibitors, sponsors and attendees.
We are currently working to assess the future of this show. In the meantime, we will be processing a full refund for all exhibit booth purchases. Once again, we would like to apologize for the cancellation, especially to those who have already made travel and accommodation plans.
PLNA last produced the show in 2012 and sold the show to MAC Events. In 2014, MAC Events was acquired by Townsquare Media. PLNA held an interest in the show through assistance in developing the educational programming and promoting the show.
“We are saddened by the news that Townsquare Expos has opted to cancel the show,” said Hagan Hetz, CEO of Fairview Evergreen Nurseries of Fairview, Pa., PLNA board member and long-time PANTS exhibitor. “This is a loss for the green industry and, unfortunately, PLNA will be unable to pick up where Townsquare left off and produce the 2015 show with such a short time frame to November.”
The PLNA board said it will review the impact of the cancellation of the PANTS show on its members and research options to meet the Pennsylvania green industry’s educational and networking needs in the future.
