The possibility of the new Spurs arena was discussed first by the City in their multi-billion dollar plan to create a sports and entertainment district downtown.
SAN ANTONIO — As conversations to build a new Spurs arena downtown gain momentum, Bexar County is officially on the negotiating table.
On Tuesday, Bexar County Commissioners approved County Judge Peter Sakai to negotiate with all relevant parties to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the possibility of moving the Spurs to a new arena downtown.
“This is just a first document that will be non-binding,” said Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai. “It will help define the roles and responsibilities of each of the parties. And so, as I indicated in open court, I needed this approval by the court and allow me to officially engage with the City of San Antonio, with the San Antonio Spurs, with the Bexar County Coliseum Advisory Board and the San Antonio Rodeo and anybody else who we’re going to include.”
The possibility of moving the Spurs downtown was officially discussed first by the City of San Antonio in their multi-billion dollar plan to create a sports and entertainment district downtown, nicknamed “Project Marvel.”
The county emphasized today that Project Marvel is a city project and the city has not formally presented their plans to Bexar County.
“We’re going to be asking for a briefing from the city of San Antonio in regards to Project Marvel,” Sakai said. “We’ll want details as to whether a new basketball arena is part of Project Marvel or is it separate and apart and how are they going to break it apart as to the individual parts that they need?”
Judge Peter Sakai has three conditions he’s setting as priorities of the county. Those three include preserving and protecting the Freeman Coliseum, the Frost Bank Center, and providing economic development to the east side of San Antonio.
“I think the Spurs have one of the finest facilities that they can play in at this time,” Sakai said. “But I understand and I recognize they [Spurs] are a business and they have to decide in their business model what they believe is in their best interest.”
If the county were to contribute to the new arena, they would utilize the venue tax. The tourism dollars consist of a 1.75% hotel/motel occupancy tax and a 5% short-term rental tax. If the county were to maximize contributions from the venue tax for the next few years, they could contribute up to nearly $400 million. If the hotel/motel occupancy tax were raised to 2%, they could contribute nearly $450 million.
While an official cost of a new Spurs arena has not been given, over one billion dollars has been given as a potential estimate.
“As you heard, there’s only a limit of resources and revenue from the county side,” Sakai said. “I’ll be waiting for the figures from the city to see if they have additional means to, raise additional revenue.”
Either way, voters will decide how the venue tax dollars would be spent. The San Antonio Spurs had asked the county to approve a venue tax election in May 2025, which was rejected. Judge Peter Sakai, at the time stressing he had unanswered questions. The next window for a possible venue tax election would be November 2025.
Regardless of if the Spurs move downtown, the county recognizes both the Freeman Coliseum and the Frost Bank Center will need renovations and upgrades. Costing at least $100 million dollars, both arenas need technology upgrades, (last one ten years ago), roof maintenance and maintenance of mechanical systems.
“The first priority is the Frost Bank Center, Joe Freeman Coliseum grounds,” Sakai said. “Then we’ll see what other venue, appropriate venue, projects we can approve and we’ll go from there.”
The vote passed 4-1, with Commissioner Tommy Calvert of Precinct 4 voting against.