History
A recycled shell that moved from oil and gas to comic conventions to crypto mining, became a Colorado oil producer in 2023, and by 2026 was strained by its Series F preferred stock.
2002-2010: A dormant shell becomes a convention company
The record for the earliest years is thin. The company deregistered its securities in 2002, ending its duty to file reports with the SEC. By 2009 it was GoEnergy, and a disclosure that September revealed that its former auditor, Moore & Associates Chartered, had lost its PCAOB registration (the US audit regulator's licence) in August 2009. GoEnergy was not accused of wrongdoing, but the finding raised questions about its earlier audits.
In November 2010 GoEnergy agreed to reverse-merge with Kick the Can Corp., a new producer of pop-culture and comic-book conventions. Kick the Can's owners received 95.5% of the stock, and $200,000 of bridge notes funded the move. The deal closed in December 2010, with Gareb Shamus as CEO and Chairman. The company soon became Wizard World.
2011-2016: Wizard World
The company ran Comic-Con-style events across North America, funded by a string of small raisings. The shell merger took eight rewrites of its report and 21 months to describe to the SEC's satisfaction, finishing in September 2012. In March 2012 director John Macaluso became CEO on pay that started at $10,000 a month, rising to $30,000 with part deferred. In March 2013 Paul Kessler joined the board, beginning the Bristol Capital presence that lasted eleven years.
In August 2013 all Series A Preferred and related warrants were converted into common shares, which removed derivative liabilities and lifted shares outstanding from about 35.8 million at the end of 2012 to about 51.1 million. In November 2015 the company restructured its CONtv streaming venture with Cinedigm, dropping to a capped 10% stake and limiting further funding to $300,000. In July 2016 John Maatta was confirmed as CEO and Randall Malinoff as operating chief.
2016-2020: Insider financing and a quiet stretch
In December 2016 the company sold $2.5 million of convertible debentures and warrants over 33.3 million shares to Bristol Investment Fund, controlled by its own Board Chairman. A month later Kessler became executive chairman, paid through his firm Bristol Capital at $18,750 a month plus options. Share count figures show a large fall by the end of 2018, but the beats do not explain it. The record is otherwise quiet until December 2019, when Barlock 2019 Fund lent $2.5 million on a 12% debenture secured on essentially all assets.
2021-2022: The crypto-mining detour and a dispute
Scott Kaufman was formalised as CEO in March 2021 on a contract allowing salary in preferred stock. He also co-managed Barlock. Renamed first Wizard Brands, then Creek Road Miners, the company pivoted to cryptocurrency mining. It raised $5 million from Leviston Resources, $3.5 million from 14 investors and $6.2 million from 20 investors through new Series C Preferred. It sold its remaining convention rights to Informa for the assumption of liabilities, and its Jevo subsidiary for $1.5 million. In December 2021 petroleum geophysicist Richard Boyce joined the board.
In September 2022 the company settled with Alpha Capital via a $900,000 convertible note and formalised a $500,000 Leviston loan. Barlock then declared a default and demanded $5 million. The company rejected the claim and accused Kaufman of fraud and breach of duty. In October 2022 it agreed to merge with Prairie Operating Co., LLC.
2023-2024: Becoming an oil producer
The merger and the Exok purchase of Weld County, Colorado (DJ Basin) assets closed on 3 May 2023, after the reverse split was dropped. The company raised $17.3 million in a PIPE, converted its preferred stock, and exchanged its debentures for $1 million of amended debentures, shares and Series D preferred. In August 2023 Prairie exercised its option to buy about 32,695 more gross acres, funded by a $20 million private placement. In October 2023, $2.0 million of debentures converted into 11,447,619 shares. The exchange cleared the shares for listing in December.
In January 2024 Prairie agreed to buy Nickel Road assets for $94.5 million and sold its crypto-mining equipment for $1 million cash plus a revenue share, ending that business. The Nickel Road deal was renegotiated in August 2024, with the O'Neill family trust allowed to raise its conversion ceiling from 9.99% to 49.9%. It closed in October for about $55.6 million paid, funded by a $40 million equity line, a $15 million convertible note and a $5 million subordinated note from director Jonathan Gray's entities. Headquarters moved to Houston and the Nasdaq ticker was PROP. Kessler resigned in November 2024, and in December Prairie set up a Citibank credit facility with a $44 million borrowing base.
2025-2026: Bayswater and the Series F strain
In February 2025 Prairie signed to buy Bayswater Resources' DJ Basin assets for $602.75 million. On 26 March it raised about $139 million net by selling 148,250 Series F preferred shares. They carried a 12% dividend rising to 25% six months after the credit facility matured, a 25% claim on future financing proceeds, and warrants due on the first anniversary. The deal closed on 1 April, with the borrowing base expanded from $44 million to $475 million. In June Prairie set up a $75 million at-the-market equity facility.
In 2026 Prairie agreed in March to pay $3 million to delay the warrant issuance, and in April moved the date again. In April it repurchased 13,727 Series F shares from Hudson Bay (High Trail) for about $19.0 million cash plus stock. In June lenders tightened covenants, and High Trail was allowed to convert its remaining stake into up to 21.2 million common shares. On 9 July Nasdaq warned that the stock had traded below $1.00 for 30 days, with until December 2026 to regain compliance. On 10 August 2026 Prairie delayed the warrants a third time, and the trigger date for the previously agreed "Second Penny Warrant" for 3 million shares at $0.01 moved to August 14 as well.
Written from the 47 story beats below (2002 to 10 Aug 2026), which come from the company's own announcements and filings.