Supporters hope the Spurs’ performance leads to residents voting in favor of new arena funding. Others argue the project would be a bad deal in the long run.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs have proven dominant on the basketball court early in the 2025-2026 campaign, starting 4-0 to match the best start in franchise history.
Whether that win streak leads to support at the ballot box remains to be seen.
On Nov. 4, voters will decide on two major ballot measures. Proposition A would allocate $192 million in venue tax revenue to renovate the Frost Bank Center, Freeman Coliseum and other rodeo facilities.
Proposition B would direct up to $311 million from increased venue tax funds to help build a new downtown arena with additional contributions from the City of San Antonio and Spurs organization for the multibillion-dollar venture.
Despite the Spurs’ winning streak, UTSA political science professor Jon Taylor says sports success rarely moves the needle when it comes to local elections.
“If they’re really losing, that’s a whole different story,” Taylor said. “But honestly, wins on the court or on the field normally don’t translate to huge amounts of positive or negative support for a vote on something like this.”
Taylor expects voter turnout for the Nov. 4 election to hover between 15% and 17%, adding that recent UTSA polling suggests slightly stronger support for Proposition A than Proposition B. Total voter turnout for the June runoff election in San Antonio was 17%.
Some supporters are optimistic that the Spurs’ strong start could help build momentum by touting the potential growth in jobs, tourism and overall local economy.
Mary Ullmann Japhet, chair of the nonprofit San Antonio Sports, hopes the team’s early season success leads to people who may have been on the fence or indifferent, to vote yes to both propositions.
“San Antonio Sports’ mission is to transform our community through the power of sport and we do that by focusing on healthy kids and families, places to play and events that impact. And those events that San Antonio Sports have brought to San Antonio have totaled more than a billion dollars in economic impact,” Japhet said. “I think it’s a great motivator and a strong reminder of the impact the Spurs have on our community’s psyche and our economics.”
However, not everyone is on board. Leaders with COPS/Metro argue Proposition B is a bad deal for San Antonio in the long run. The grassroots organization, celebrating 50 years, has spent months advocating against the proposed measure, scrutinizing the use of public funds for such a project.
“We need better paying jobs,” said COPS/Metro’s Billie Gonzales.
“What we’ve heard so far is that people want to see funds going toward their neighborhoods,” added Gina Reynoso, an organizer with the organization. “We need to be investing in our infrastructure, whether it’s better roads or flood control.”
Early voting in Bexar County wraps up on Friday. To learn more about where you can vote on Election Day next Tuesday, click here.