THE BALLOON MAN

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Tennessee firm interested in saving state fair

SFVA Inc., the nonprofit that owned and operated the fair, moved into liquidation with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy last month.

By: Randy Hallman

Richmond, VA Times-Dispatch

April 11, 2012

RICHMOND, Va. --

Mark Lovell wants to resuscitate Virginia's state fair, but it won't be easy.

Lovell owns Universal Fairs LLC, based in suburban Memphis, Tenn. The company stages fairs and other festivals and expositions in Memphis, Mississippi, Seattle and other places.

Universal recently took over the financially troubled Georgia State Fair and plans to operate it in a 10-day run starting April 27. Now he says he wants to do the same in Virginia, where the Virginia State Fair went bankrupt.

SFVA Inc., the nonprofit that owned and operated the fair, moved into liquidation with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy last month. An auction is set for May 22 to sell the 331-acre Meadow Event Park in Caroline County where the fair had been held since 2009, along with the fair's name and other assets.

Lovell said Tuesday that he plans to bid on the fair's name and is a potential bidder for the property. But for the time being, at least, he is trying to clear the way to stage the fair at its former home at the Richmond International Raceway Complex, which sits in central Henrico County just outside Richmond's northern boundary.