The management of the Brno Trade Fairs was surprised by DRFG's plans to transform the exhibition grounds

Brno - The company Veletrhy Brno, which has been 95 percent owned by the city of Brno since last week, was surprised that the investment and financial group DRFG and the design company A Plus published their plans for the transformation of the exhibition grounds without discussing them with the company's management. According to the published plans, a new residential quarter could be created there, for example. The Mayor, Petr Vokřál (ANO), emphasized that the exhibition grounds must continue to serve exhibition activities. Veletrhy spokesman David Pokorný wrote to ČTK that it is absurd that someone outside plans something on land owned by someone else.
"Neither DRFG nor A Plus have ever contacted us to ascertain the facts. We consider their actions to be audacious," stated Pokorný. A Plus is a company that designed, for example, the university campus in Bohunice and currently belongs to DRFG. Its owner is David Rusňák, the husband of Petra Rusňáková, who is a councilor in Brno for the ANO movement.
According to information published in MF DNES, the designers came up with the idea of creating a smaller fenced area on the premises. They see an opportunity for a cultural and entertainment center in Pavilion Z. They designed the residential quarter around the Empire-style Bauer villa. "It is surprising that someone thinks this way at a time when the city leadership has clearly stated through the Mayor that it will not allow a developer approach," noted Pokorný.
The DRFG group told ČTK that it has indeed not yet negotiated with Veletrhy Brno and is prepared to negotiate with the city. DRFG denies that its efforts represent a developer intervention. "We presented our opinion on a possible future development of the area. At the same time, we expressed our readiness to participate in finding a form and in the future realization of the renewal of the Brno exhibition grounds," relayed the statement of DRFG management by Radka Tlachová from the company. Rusňák told the MF DNES newspaper that Veletrhy could achieve the same performance on half the area and that he is interested in participating in the transformation as a financial partner. For him, it is also essential that exhibition activities continue to function.
Vokřál has been on vacation since the beginning of Christmas and has not commented on DRFG's plans. However, he has repeatedly stated that the city will do nothing that would jeopardize the exhibition activities, which are crucial for the company's operations. He has only preliminarily spoken about better public access to the area, but only after agreement with the company's management. Specifically, he only mentioned the construction of a tram loop and a new fire station.
The management of Veletrhy is skeptical of any major interventions in the area. "The company does not need to sell any real estate now. It would be uneconomical and inefficient. Moreover, the exhibition halls and infrastructure are utilized 90 percent for operations," pointed out Pokorný. However, according to director Jiří Kuliš, Veletrhy are prepared to discuss any project that does not disrupt operations and makes economic and social sense like the VIDA! center.
Tlachová from DRFG stated that they are starting "discussions searching for a broader social consensus in formulating the future shape and form of the area known as Pisárecká Basin." This area also includes the recreational area Riviéra, for example.