County Judge Peter Sakai’s goal comes as the county prepares to ramp up talks with the Spurs and the City of San Antonio about moving the team downtown.
SAN ANTONIO — As the possibility of a new Spurs arena being constructed downtown inches closer to becoming reality, Bexar County is nearing its own decision on what will happen to the Frost Bank Center, the team’s east-side home since 2002.
Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai stated said Commissioners Court will be expected to make decide the arena’s future by this summer.
“I want to make it real clear to the taxpayers, to the public, that what we’re trying to do is protect our county investment,” Sakai said. “So those negotiations are ongoing.”
One of the proposals Bexar County is considering would extend the San Antonio Rodeo and Stock Show for an additional seven months. While Sakai emphasized that no firm plan has been confirmed for the Frost Bank Center, the county is moving ahead with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a non-binding contract with the Freeman Coliseum Advisory Board, the rodeo and the city to start negotiations.
“They are a significant part of the economic generator for that area, as it stands,” Sakai said. “So I am not going to ignore or disregard the value that the San Antonio Rodeo does for our community. Part of the nonbinding MOU is to make sure the rodeo understands that we will expect those contributions to continue.”
In a 400-page report compiled by Commissioner Tommy Calvert based residents’ feedback from two town halls, the rodeo’s proposal didn’t quite resonate with those that live on the east side.
Instead, Calvert proposed that Texas A&M build a veterinary school while the county develops and builds workforce housing, hotels, restaurants, and a baby animal breeding zoo.
“They’ve (the rodeo) got to do their due diligence to, use public tax dollars for what the public wants. And because these are their (public) dollars, ultimately these are their buildings,” Calvert said. “The thing about the rodeo is it’s got to be more inclusive of the small businesses, restauranteurs and, craftspeople and their ability to sell things at the rodeo. Not enough of our east-side businesses are included there. So that’s number one. Number two, the community has changed. There was a time where the east side was home to the farmer’s daughter and a lot of country western clubs. That time has transitioned, and so does the community feel that the rodeo is the best exemplar of what they want? You got to ask the community.”
It may come to pass that there’s further conversation on what is best for the east side. When San Antonio City Council approved allowing City Manager Erik Walsh to continue MOU talks with the county and the Spurs, it did so with an added stipulation: that council members Sukh Kaur and Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, who represent the downtown and east-side areas, respectively, have a seat at the table for the most “substantive discussions” going forward.