The Fort Smith Board of Directors will consider three major topics during its Sept. 9 study session: a nonprofit proposal to establish a city-funded entertainment fund, potential changes to the management agreement with Oak View Group at the Fort Smith Convention Center and an initial look at the city’s 2026 budget.
Entertainment Fund Proposal
The River Valley Film Society, through its subsidiary Border Town Live, will present a plan to help attract more concerts and shows to the Fort Smith Convention Center and the ArcBest Performing Arts Center.The proposal calls for utilizing the already established entertainment fund, a separate line item in the city budget, with RVFS invoicing the city for event-related costs. The funds would remain under city control. A joint committee of RVFS, OVG, and city representatives would select shows, and OVG would assist in booking. RVFS also would operate its own box office and ticketing system.
RVFS leaders, including Brandon Goldsmith, are scheduled to speak to the board and answer questions.
Convention Center contract amendments
The board also will review a proposed second amendment to the city’s management contract with OVG Facilities LLC. The suggested changes include:
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Off-site catering: Expanding current restrictions to allow the Convention Center’s food and beverage staff to cater any outside event, creating a new revenue source.
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Contract term: Extending OVG’s initial five-year term to eight years with one two-year extension, maintaining the 10-year total.
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Event marketing account: Establishing a dedicated fund to attract and promote events, similar to the Border Town Live proposal.
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Parking review: Having OVG provide advisory services on the city’s parking facilities at no cost.
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Technical language updates: Clarifying assignment of responsibilities to subsidiaries.A draft amendment has been prepared, but it will require legal review before adoption.
Preliminary 2026 budget
Finally, the board will receive a first look at budget comparison summaries for 2026. The documents compile departmental requests, revenue projections and capital requests. Unlike past years, the summaries already include all new requests for 2026, making them a more complete starting point for upcoming budget meetings with departments and directors. Finance staff emphasized that the numbers remain preliminary and are subject to change as projections are refined.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Fort Smith Board weighs entertainment fund, catering expansion, budget
