Hasbro announces Hascon - is this the beginning of the end for Pony Conventions?

As suspected, Hasbro is getting their piece of the fan-convention pie, by cutting out the middle-man and throwing one themselves (presumably with LESS blackjack and hookers than the current pony conventions). Today they announced the launch of "HASCON", a convention for all of Hasbro's brands including Transformers, GI Joe, and of course My Little Pony. 

The real question on everyone's mind is: how does this affect the current My Little Pony fandom convention scene? If Hasbro is running their own, then any others could be seen as direct competition, and a detriment to their bottom line. Could we see C&D's for brony conventions in the future?

Probably not... but the possibility isn't unrealistic.
It's Hasbro we're talking about. They've put an end to plenty of things for even lesser reasons in the past.

Here's the press release:

Hasbro to Create the Ultimate Entertainment and Play Experience by Bringing Its Iconic Brands to Life with First-Ever ‘HASCON'

First-of-Its-Kind Convention Will Bring Fans and Families Together for Three Days of Immersive Entertainment Experiences, Talent and Character Appearances, Panels and More in September 2017

PAWTUCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), a global play and entertainment company, announced it is creating the first-ever HASCON fan and family convention in September 2017. The massive event, which will be held in Providence at the Rhode Island Convention Center and Dunkin Donuts Center fromSeptember 8-10, 2017, will treat attendees to three unforgettable days featuring a celebration of Hasbro's powerful characters and stories, including live interactive experiences, exclusive products, talent appearances, panels and much more.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161018006137/en/

From bringing the first action figure to life with G.I. JOE, to creating a world where robots are truly ‘more than meets the eye' with TRANSFORMERS, Hasbro's brands have always overflowed with rich stories and dynamic, multi-faceted characters, providing an incredible platform to capture the imaginations of fans of all ages. The premiere HASCON event will bring the magic of decades of storytelling under one roof for the ultimate, immersive Hasbro fan and family experience. Hasbro's top properties, including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, NERF, MAGIC THE GATHERING, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, G.I. JOE and many others will be reimagined through dynamic stage performances and unique opportunities for fans to engage with their favorite characters. In addition to interactive experiences designed to offer attendees a glimpse into Hasbro's imaginative storytelling in action, visitors will have the chance to see first-look previews of Hasbro's biggest television and movie series, attend panels and meet-and-greets with celebrities and creative talent associated with Hasbro brands, take part in Hasbro Gaming competitions and purchase special limited-edition Hasbro products.
"Hasbro is home to many of the world's most recognizable brands, each of them with their own group of passionate and engaged fans," said John Frascotti, President ofHasbro Brands. "HASCON will deliver an extraordinary peek behind the curtain of our brands, storytelling, and iconic characters while giving us the opportunity to invite fans and families to our hometown for the most memorable, unified Hasbro experience ever."
For all of the latest information on HASCON 2017, please visit http://hascon.hasbro.com
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World's Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. The Company's Hasbro Studios and its film label, Allspark Pictures, are building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Through its commitment to corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to make the world a better place for children and their families. Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews) and Instagram (@Hasbro).
HAS-PR

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161018006137/en/

Hasbro, Inc.
Crystal Flynn, 401-727-5129
Crystal.Flynn@hasbro.com

Source: Hasbro, Inc.


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