The Tritt concert had been slated for Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex just north of the city.

Leaders of Shellabration, the non-profit group that organizes the shows, announced the change Thursday evening. They cited two major road construction jobs as the reasons for moving the concert.

The intersection of Nelson Avenue and 170th Street just south of the sports complex is already under construction as it is being converted to a roundabout.

A few miles farther south, the intersection of Second Avenue North and 15th Street will be rebuilt. The City Council is expected to award a contract for that work Monday, and traffic restrictions will be in place there by the end of the month.

Both projects would impact access to the concert at the sports complex, according to Reed.

Since 2017, all of the Fort Dodge Country Jam concerts have been held at the intersection of Central Avenue and Ninth Street. The 2025 concert featuring Trace Adkins was a sellout, which prompted Shellabration to move this year’s show to the more spacious sports complex.

“When we decided to move from downtown to the sports complex, our intention was to be able to accommodate higher attendance reminiscent of past Shellabration concerts,” said Jim Reed, president of Shellabration Inc. “Given that we sold out three weeks in advance of the show date for Trace Adkins and drew a record crowd of 4,765 for that country concert, it was the best decision at the time.”

“Having confirmed a headliner one year in advance for the first time ever, what we couldn’t anticipate was road construction and road closures that could impact the event,” he said.

The move to downtown means that fewer tickets can be sold for the concert.

“We’re expecting a crowd size like last year’s Trace Adkins event,” said Craig Schlienz, a member of the Shellabration Inc., Board of Directors. “While it’d be great to serve a larger audience out at the soccer fields, selling out a show is never a bad thing.”

Tritt burst onto the country music scene in 1989 with the Top 10 hit “Country Club.”

His other hits include “Help Me Hold On,” “I’m Gonna Be Somebody,” “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” “Love of a Woman,” “Best of Intentions” and “Strong Enough to be Your Man.”

He has performed duets with a wide variety of singers, including Marty Stuart, Hank Williams Jr., Waylon Jennings, John Mellencamp, David Lee Roth and Patti LaBelle.

Tritt has received a Grammy award, a Horizon Award and was named a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He is a member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Over the years, he’s had seven albums certified platinum or higher, 15 Top 10 hits, including five No. 1 songs, and 40 hits on the charts altogether.

He has sold more than 30 million albums.

A Fort Dodge band, Stadium Dr., will be the opening act. It features Jefferson Fosbender and Alex Trevino on guitars and vocals, plus Owen O’Brien on bass and Cole Smothers on drums. The group released its first album “Scenic City” in 2024 and followed that up this year with “Where All The Rain Goes.”

A Des Moines area band, Blake Jack & 35 South will also perform that night.

If you go:

Tickets for Fort Dodge Country Jam 2026 featuring Travis Tritt are currently on sale at Ticketweb.com.

They are also available at these local businesses:

Hy-Vee, 115 S. 29th St.

Availa Bank, 130 N. 29th St.

First Interstate Bank, 825 Central Ave. and 201 S. 25th St.

GreenState Credit Union, 1207 Central Ave.

Peoples Credit Union in both Fort Dodge and Webster City

Tickets cost $45 through July 26. On July 27, the ticket price increases to $55.

Children age 12 and younger are admitted free if they are accompanied by an adult.

All tickets are general admission, festival style seating. Bring your own chair.