The City Council will vote on two resolutions that will directly impact Project Marvel and the proposed new Spurs arena.
SAN ANTONIO — City Council’s Thursday meeting is shaping up to feature a clash between two contingents of city leaders with different approaches to the current stage of Project Marvel discussions.
One group, led by Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, hopes to pause talks between city staff and the Spurs until San Antonio conducts its own economic impact study on a downtown arena expected to cost between $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion. The other, at this point bigger contingent hopes to give City Manager Erik Walsh the green light to continue negotiations with the NBA team on terms of the development.
Those two approaches are represented by dueling resolutions that have been placed on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting—the outcome of which could prove pivotal for the timeline of the ongoing negotiations.
Jones, meanwhile, is continuing a public campaign pressuring city leaders to slow down on negotiations in order for an independent economic study to be completed. Speaking from the steps of City Hall, where she was flanked by community organizers also in favor of transparency when it comes to Project Marvel, she doubled down on her pursuit of a “strategic pause.”
“I’ve been very clear: I want the Spurs here, (and) I want a good deal,” Jones said. “I think we can confidently work with our community if we can have confidence in the data.”
That’s been a sticking point much of this month for Jones, referred to an economic analysis by CSL as “inadequate” and said it had “significant gaps” regarding Project Marvel, particularly when it comes to a new Spurs arena.
The mayor has said that CSL consults for the Spurs and that she wants a no-strings-attached economic study done in order for both the public and City Council to understand what’s at stake, particularly when it comes to the city’s contribution to an arena and how San Antonio’s General Fund could be impacted.
The drafted term sheet specifies the city’s contribution would be either $489 million or 38% of the total arena cost—whichever ends up being the smaller amount. The team previously committed $500 million for arena costs.
Jones’ resolution on Thursday’s meeting agenda also requires each council members to host two in-person town halls to gather feedback from those they represent before making a decision on the terms sheet.
“This is just basic due diligence. This is what the people of San Antonio deserve,” said Jones, emphasizing that there is “no deadline” to vote on approving a term sheet this month.
>>WATCH: Mayor Jones’ full news conference on Project Marvel.
Asked about whether there was consideration for the November venue tax election vote called by Bexar County – a ballot question which would pave the way for the county’s $311 million contribution to an arena – Jones said there “should be” enough time to conduct an economic study, hold public town halls and provide feedback to council members.
“I’m very shocked folks want to move forward on this absent input from their considerations,” she said of council members indicating they were ready to approve a term sheet between the city and the Spurs without seeing it for themselves. “We actually have lots of time to get this done. We don’t do this every two weeks, $489 million (projects).”
Jones emphasized she wants a similar study as one conducted for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2024 which highlighted impacts to that city’s General Fund.
She also made sure to emphasize what fans of San Antonio’s only major sports team would want to hear.
“I want a deal with the Spurs,” Jones said repeatedly.
A majority vote will determine which resolution passes on Thursday.
Walsh said Friday evening that the city had made “significant progress” in talks with the Spurs in recent days, resulting in the eventual proposed term sheet and looming City Council discussion.
The Spurs are looking to build their new arena downtown – in the former site of the Institute of Texan Cultures – before the team’s lease at the Frost Bank Center ends in 2032. However, at least seven of the 10 other council members have signaled their desire for the city manager to move forward with negotiations with the Spurs