Military Consumer Event to Debut This Fall

Created by veterans to bring the military community together, MCON is slated to be the largest annual consumer event celebrating military culture, service and sacrifice. Fittingly set for Nov. 10-12 over Veterans Day weekend in Las Vegas, the inaugural edition of MCON is designed to be a journey of exploration, tech-enabled connection and opportunities to discover new resources wrapped up in a festival environment, according to show officials.

“MCON is a groundbreaking event designed to bring together the men and women who wore the uniform and volunteered to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” said MCON co-founder Waco Hoover, a former Marine who also co-founded XLIVE and The Institute for Health Technology Transformation (which were sold to Informa and Vendome Group, respectively) alongside Todd Brockman. 

He added, “We’ve curated a highly interactive experience that will offer an incredible festival environment but also enable attendees to walk away having learned something new about the resources available.”

The show’s launch comes at a pivotal time for the U.S. military community, which faces significant mental health, suicide, family balance and post-service transition challenges. According to show officials, U.S. service members and their families deal with significant hardships balancing life around deployment, change of duty station and other issues of which most Americans aren’t aware. 

With a mission of creating community, facilitating connection and improving the wellbeing for those who served and their families, MCON will include pavilions featuring activations around musicians, comedians, outdoor and adventure, mental health and wellness, culinary and learning experiences, along with an awards program celebrating the best in military culture, entertainment and media.  

Leading influencers, celebrities and leaders from the community will also be part of the show’s lineup, while a vendor and exhibit area will feature more than 50 brand partners and organizations serving the military. Additionally, event partners will have an innovative and new way to connect with the individuals they are supporting through their respective missions before, during and after the event, according to show officials. 

“When Waco and Todd approached me about their vision for MCON, there was an instant connection – a consumer event with a mission to support those who serve appeals to me on several levels,” said Martha Donato, founder and president of MAD Event Management, which will serve as MCON’s production partner. “I’m excited to be a part of the project and infuse some of my Comic-Con experience into it.”