Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — At the July 28, 2025, regular meeting, the Gulf Shores City Council approved a closely watched one-year extension of the franchise agreement for the Hangout Music Festival—recently rebranded as the “Sand in My Boots” concert—allowing the event to take place in 2026, with an optional additional year for 2027 if both sides agree.

Background and Terms of the Agreement

This extension comes as the latest in a series of franchise agreements between the City and the festival organizers. All terms of the current agreement remain in effect, with the 2025 “Sand in My Boots” event serving as a benchmark for future evaluations. The festival, renowned for its economic and cultural impact, brings nationally televised coverage via ESPN, thousands of concertgoers, and significant hotel occupancy to Gulf Shores each year.

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The extension appropriates up to $190,000 annually to support site improvements and event infrastructure. Notably, in addition to the city’s 3% venue fee on ticket sales (which brought the city over $2million last year), all costs for public safety—such as police and fire—are borne by the festival, and the event is credited with generating an estimated total benefit of over $5million when including sales and lodging taxes outside the venue.

Public Input and Debate on Terms

The council vote followed robust public comment, with several residents questioning whether the 3% venue fee is now too low, given the festival’s rapid sell-out and rising costs elsewhere. Some noted that comparable events in other cities charge between 10% and 20%. City officials and finance committee chairpersons countered that the agreement was the result of years of negotiation and that while the 3% fee is not “capped” and continues to grow with ticket sales, any increase should be carefully considered in light of maintaining the partnership’s long-term viability.

Others in the community asked for festival revenues to be earmarked for resident amenities, more rapid post-event cleanup before Memorial Day weekend, and renewed efforts to improve late-night transportation options for festival patrons. Officials responded that revenue allocation is regularly reviewed in city budgeting, and cleanup standards are addressed each year in the festival’s operational planning.

Council Rationale and Forward-Looking Remarks

City leaders emphasized the short-term nature of the renewed agreement, calling this two-year window a crucial period for establishing sustainable best practices and potentially negotiating higher terms in the future. Several council members highlighted that other cities often pay to secure such high-profile events, while Gulf Shores profits both directly and indirectly from the partnership. They noted, however, that the agreement will be subject to ongoing review and adjustment in the coming years.

The 2024 “Sand in My Boots” festival was widely considered a success by both the city and producers—a point referenced multiple times as motivation for forging ahead with renewed community cooperation. With this short extension, Gulf Shores aims to preserve the event’s economic benefits while remaining responsive to citizen feedback on quality-of-life issues.

Gulf Shores Mayor, Robert Craft, wasn’t at the meeting, as he was visiting Alabama’s Senators in Washington DC with Mayor Tony Kennon of Orange Beach and Mayor Ralph Hellmich of Foley. They flew to Washington to discuss infrastructure in South Baldwin County.

The measure passed unanimously by all the Gulf Shores City Council members, affirming Gulf Shores’ continued role as a major live music destination while keeping contractual leverage for future negotiations and community input at the forefront.