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DDA waives in-kind rental and staff fees for Delray Concours; declines broader vendor payments
Summary
After a lengthy presentation and board debate, the DDA voted to waive venue rental and staff fees (in-kind) for the Delray Concours event but did not approve direct payments to outside vendors; board asked staff to document terms and conditions and return with details.
The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority voted Nov. 10 to waive in-kind rental and staff fees for the Delray Concours (a multi-day car-concours event) while stopping short of paying outside vendors directly. The board—s decision follows a detailed presentation from the Delray Concours Foundation and hours of discussion about costs, security and community benefits.
Max Engage, representing the Delray Concours Foundation, described the 2026 event as an international, charity-oriented festival that attracts attendees and car owners from multiple states and countries and asked the DDA for a full waiver of campus rental and staff fees as well as payment of mutual vendors directly. "We're asking for waived fees and vendors to be paid direct... Please don't give us a penny," Max said, adding that the foundation plans to donate event proceeds to local charities.
Board members expressed support for the event's economic impact but noted budget pressures. Several members proposed alternatives to direct vendor payments, including partial vendor subsidies and revenue-sharing on alcohol sales. One board member said the DDA ought to limit its role to venue and staff support rather than underwriting third-party suppliers.
After multiple substitute motions and an extended debate, the board approved a substitute motion to waive DDA venue rental and staff fees (estimated in discussion to equal roughly $20,000 in in-kind support) and not to authorize additional direct vendor payments. The motion passed on roll call; board members asked staff to formalize terms, confirm final vendor quotes and document any in-kind values.
Next steps: DDA staff will prepare written terms for the fee waiver, coordinate invoicing with vendors where applicable, and report final cost tallies back to the board. The Concours representatives said they will continue to pursue private sponsorship and logistics improvements, including enhanced security and volunteer management.
