Celebrate Wildwood commission keeps 2025 alcohol revenue-sharing terms unchanged

The Celebrate Wildwood Commission voted to keep alcohol vendor revenue-sharing terms unchanged for the 2025 Celebrate Wildwood event and to revisit the policy for future years.

The commission's staff reported research of nearby municipalities showing most peer events share liquor/beer revenue with vendors but not other vendors; practices vary from flat fees to percentage splits. The department told the commission that some nearby jurisdictions either charge no split or use a flat participation fee. Staff also reported current outreach to major vendors (including the Pond Athletic Association) to confirm contracts and payments for this year.

Commissioners said they were concerned that increasing revenue-sharing mid‑registration could push vendors to withdraw, given that the event is one day and vendor margins can be thin. Several commissioners suggested notifying vendors this year that the city plans to reconsider rates for 2026, rather than changing terms for 2025.

The motion to maintain the current alcohol-sales terms for 2025 carried after members voted in favor. The commission directed staff to explore options and present recommended changes for 2026, including either a percentage split or a flat-fee alternative.

Clarifying details provided at the meeting: staff reported outreach to multiple jurisdictions and examples of splits (e.g., a 40% split reported for one jurisdiction and a 50/50 split after expenses for another), and said a few nearby towns responded that they do not share revenue. The commission noted registrations already open and several alcohol vendors already registered for 2025.