Flaming Gorge Days concert contract stalls after sponsor complaints; council requests workshop

A motion to approve a contract with Adelska LLC to manage the 2025 Flaming Gorge Days concert failed for lack of a second during the Green River City Council meeting.

Reid, the staff member presenting the contract, said Adelska was the same firm the city used the prior year for concert management and marketing and that staff met with the firm to refine the scope. He said the city and Adelska plan earlier coordination this year to improve marketing, volunteer management and ticketing.

Several council members asked questions about the scope, ticket sales and timing; staff said Adelska would provide marketing, branding, social media, volunteer coordination, risk management and concert booking and would handle centralized online registration and ticketing. City staff also confirmed the festival would continue to rely on city volunteers and existing vendor relationships.

April Dondberg, representing Arctic Circle and a sponsor from last year, told the council she and her company “felt like those promises weren’t acted upon.” She said sponsor perks—concert tickets, drink tickets and T‑shirts—arrived late or not at all, social‑media advertising reach was limited and her company name was incorrectly tagged. “It felt like the advertising that we were promised in return fell through,” she told the council.

Council members and staff discussed sponsorship fulfillment and the allocation of risk and profit under the current services arrangement. Staff told the council Adelska’s fee is a service fee and that “we would get any of the upside at this point; we’re responsible for the downside as well,” meaning the city would retain revenue upside and assume shortfalls.

Council members said they want additional discussion with staff and Adelska before approving a contract. One council motion to approve the agreement, moved by Councilman Chester and described in the meeting as “pending legal approval,” failed for lack of a second. Council members requested a prompt workshop to resolve outstanding issues such as vendor/volunteer roles, sponsor deliverables, ticketing and profit‑sharing arrangements.

Several citizens and staff offered to help with coordination: a city vendor coordinator said she could recruit local bands and organizers; a city staff member said volunteer needs and vendor counts are already being tracked. Council directed staff to schedule a workshop and deferred final approval until the outstanding sponsor and operational concerns are addressed.

Ending: The council did not approve the Adelska contract; staff and councilors will hold a workshop to reconcile sponsor complaints and finalize event responsibilities and timelines before the council takes a final vote.