City authorizes negotiated concert contract for Jody Messina; one councilor votes no

Muskogee — The City Council on Dec. 8 authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute an amended performance contract with Dreamdown Enterprises for a March 28, 2026 concert featuring Jody Messina at the Muskogee Civic Center.

City staff detailed proposed contract costs: talent fees were described at $70,000 (a subsidiary notation listed $75,000 including an opener), and staff estimated the total contract with incidentals at about $104,300. Staff said the contract included insurance requirements (examples cited in discussion included limits of $3 million and $5 million) and a clause that would have awarded 50% of ticket sales over a specified threshold; staff said they planned to strike or renegotiate that revenue‑share provision and were negotiating insurance language.

"We sold 712 the last time I checked today, which is over $32,000 in tickets," the presenter said while describing current sales and projected marketing activity. Staff described the presented budget as a worst‑case scenario and said they would mark up and negotiate contract terms before execution.

Council voted to authorize the city manager to finalize the amended agreement; the motion passed on roll call with Deputy mayor Derek Reed voting No and other members voting Yes. Staff will return a signed contract after the negotiated edits.

Why this matters: The event is expected to draw visitors and local economic activity (staff estimated broader economic impacts from similar events), but councilors probed liability, insurance and revenue‑sharing terms before approving authorization to execute the amended contract.