The largest exhibition complex in the Czech Republic, Trade Fairs Brno (BVV), is on the point of collapse. The company’s demise could prove catastrophic not just for the company and its employees, but for a wide range of businesses around Brno that are dependent on the thousands of visitors it brings to the city. “We can’t make it without help from the state,” said BVV director Jiri Kulis. “This isn’t the result of an unexpected epidemic, which surprised everyone. It’s the result of scaring people off and illogical protection measures.” Another prominent symbol of Brno, the MotoGP World Championship, which has been dependent upon tax payers for years for its survival. But BVV was profitable until last year. Kulis claims that large-scale exhibitions are safer than shopping malls, which have been opened since May. Developers are already circling the enormous zone, evaluating its potential alternative uses. Even the city’s chief architect has suggested that it could serve as a new residential district.
