Faizzal Fatehali: Like ‘building a city here in a park’: What it takes to set up the PNE

The PNE’s Faizzal Fatehali on how exhibitions, food and shows are picked to stay on top of ever-changing trends.

Every year, more than 720,000 people funnel into the Pacific National Exhibition fairgrounds for concerts, mouthwatering food and exhibition eye-candy.

But ahead of each festival comes a need to stay original, and planning for the public’s ever-changing palate. And for that, the PNE has a man behind the scenes to make it happen: Faizzal Fatehali.

As the manager of exhibition space for five years, Fatehali picks the exhibits, the food, the outdoor products, all while controlling the layout to make sure they flow well together. For the duration of the festival’s run, the exhibition’s blueprint becomes his life.

“It’s a beast here,” he said. “We’re literally building a city here in a park. The infrastructure, power, water, look and feel, with 10 days to build for a 15-day run.”

Source: Vancouver Sun – BEHDAD MAHICHI – August 19, 2018