Last November, Bexar County residents voted in favor of Propositions A and B which helped fund Project Marvel in San Antonio. Prop B included $311M in county funds toward building a new arena for the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs committed at least $500 million toward construction of an arena, plus overruns while paying rent. That money is designed to offset a proposed $489 million contribution from the city.
Last week, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones — who has been in opposition of funding a new Spurs arena
— called for a measure to give locals an opportunity to vote on whether city money could be used in the initiative.
On Tuesday, this letter was sent out by Spurs CEO R. C. Buford on behalf of the Spurs.
“Believing in What’s Next for San Antonio
Last November, the people of Bexar County made their voices heard. They approved a shared vision that invests in a new downtown home for the Spurs, strengthens the East Side and creates new opportunities across our
community. We committed to respecting that vote, and we will.
Now is the time to move forward together.
This project is about strengthening San Antonio for the next generation. Over the past several years, the City,
County, Rodeo and Spurs have worked together to develop a plan that creates jobs and brings new investment to
our community. This is a responsible public-private partnership built around clear commitments. The Spurs and
our development partners are investing more than $2 billion and covering every dollar of cost overruns.
The City’s contribution comes from visitor-based revenue, collected at the Texas State level, that is legally
restricted to venues and tourism-related projects. It cannot be redirected to streets, schools, public safety or other
general services.
That is not a burden placed on local families. It is a way to keep visitor dollars in San Antonio, leverage billions in
private investment and create new revenue that can support the services our community depends on.
We have already seen what Spurs basketball means to our economy. During the 2026 playoffs, visitors filled hotel
rooms, restaurants welcomed more customers and downtown came alive. An economic analysis estimated $164
million in net spending to the City of San Antonio and $3.4 million in City tax revenue, including $1.4 million toward the general fund.
We want that momentum rooted in our downtown for decades.
The people who will build this project live here. Our neighbors will benefit from it. Local entrepreneurs will
welcome new customers. Young people will see new career paths. Small businesses will have more opportunities
to grow. That is money staying in San Antonio. That is opportunity people can feel.
The $75 million community benefits program funded by the Spurs and managed by the City and County will
support workforce development, future generations and small businesses. Local hiring and vendor goals will help
ensure that the people who call San Antonio home share in the project’s success.
Our responsibility is to honor the legacy that brought us here while building the next chapter with care. San Antonio does not wait for someone else to dream for us. We build our own future.
The vote has taken place. The commitments have been made. The work is underway.
Now I ask you to join us in building something worthy of San Antonio so that we can shape the next chapter of our legacy together.”
There has been some confusion in social media as to the difference between county money, city money, and the commitment made by the Spurs and their partners. A few sources have pointed out that city money is coming from an added hotel tax and does not involve an added tax to local residents. The nuances have been part of the ongoing debate. If you live within the city limits and end up with an opportunity to vote, you can attend town halls and Q&A sessions in the weeks before to get up to speed on specifics. Last year, the Spurs hosted many forums and discussions as did local city council members.
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