More than 50 Dallas Fire-Rescue medics remain unpaid for Fair Park event shifts worked in 2025, with a payment list obtained by Fox 4 KDFW showing $27,504 outstanding.
The list shows individual medics are owed between $200 and more than $1,500 for work performed from March through August 2025. A DFR spokesperson said department leaders have requested payment from Oak View Group management, but those requests have gone unanswered.
The City of Dallas has not publicly said whether it will pursue the money on the medics’ behalf.
Union Wants Dallas To Step In
Dallas Firefighters Association President Chris Peterson urged the city to pay the medics directly and seek reimbursement through its contract dispute with OVG.
“I think if we could figure out how to get the city to pay the $27,000 and then just add this back into the lawsuit, I think this solves our members’ problems,” Peterson said in the report.
Dallas’ primary management agreement was with nonprofit Fair Park First, which subcontracted OVG360 to provide venue and facilities management and oversee daily operations beginning in 2019.
The city issued Fair Park First a 90-day termination notice on June 18, 2025. City officials said the structure was flawed because Dallas lacked a direct contractual relationship with OVG360. The notice said Dallas would maintain continuity for tenants, partners and upcoming events during the transition.
The medics’ reported work period extended through August, before the 90-day transition ended.
Audit Preceded Contract Dispute
An independent audit found $5.7 million in restricted donor funds had been spent on operating expenses and projects outside donor restrictions.
OVG disputed the findings. Greg O’Dell, president of venue management for Oak View Group, said the money remained at Fair Park and that Fair Park First had directed or approved the uses in writing.
OVG later sent Dallas a legal notice seeking at least $5 million in damages. The company alleged the city had refused to pay invoices and reimburse expenses tied to work performed before the management arrangement ended. OVG said in March it was discussing the dispute with Dallas.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, city officials later said Fair Park required millions of dollars in deferred maintenance after Dallas resumed control.
Dallas has not announced a payment plan or legal action for the medics’ outstanding event work.
Provided by Dallas Express
