Jackson council hears presentation on fairgrounds lease, rodeo management and concession deals

The Jackson Town Council heard an informational presentation Nov. 17 on three documents that define who controls and operates the town‑owned Teton County Fairgrounds: the long‑term fairgrounds lease, a rodeo grounds management agreement, and the rodeo concession contract with WW Productions, the Wilson family concessionaire.

Roxanne Roberts, a town staffer, told the council the lease is between the town of Jackson and Teton County and is intended to secure the property for long‑term western and community uses. Roberts said the lease currently produces a nominal payment to the town ($100 per year), had been set to expire in 2026 but was extended to Dec. 31, 2030, and “there is no termination clause other than for damage or destruction or failure to cure a default or breach.”

Roberts described the separate management agreement under which the town pays Teton County to administer and maintain the grounds. "We pay Teton County $80,000 a year to manage the grounds for us," Roberts said, and noted that the management contract is set to expire Dec. 31, 2026. She told council that prior to 2014 the county passed through all concession income to the town but that the town set a cap (previously $60,000, raised to $80,000 by fiscal year 2022) on pass‑through payments.

The presentation described the rodeo concession agreement between the town and WW Productions, LLC (the Wilson family). Under the current concession contract Roberts said the operator must pay the town $50,000 per year or 10% of gross receipts, whichever is greater; the present term runs through Sept. 30, 2026, and the concessionaire has asked to extend the agreement.

Phil Wilson of WW Productions spoke to council about the concession’s work and local ties. "What we tried to do over the years was make this rodeo into something that everybody felt a part of," Wilson said, describing investments his family made and charitable events the rodeo has supported. He and Brian Wilson credited local marketing, increased capacity and community partnerships for rising attendance and revenue since the early 2010s and raised concerns about ticket scalping that they said reduces local access.

Public commenters also praised the concessionaire. Hal Johnson, who said he was involved with the rodeo in the 1960s and 1970s, told the council he was grateful for the Wilsons’ work. Diane McGee, representing the Teton County Community Tennis Association, added that tennis courts included in the lease area should be improved and said the association would support lease renewal and privately fund court upgrades.

Roberts said staff’s intent is to return after the new year with draft lease and management documents for council consideration and, after that, a separate review of the rodeo concession agreement. No formal direction or votes on the agreements were requested at the workshop.

What happens next: staff plans to draft updated lease and management documents for council review and said negotiations with county staff would be necessary if the documents are combined or amended. The concessionaire and county will be part of those future discussions.