By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The San Antonio city council rejected a proposal that would have placed the city’s $489 million contribution toward a new downtown San Antonio Spurs arena on the November ballot. A tight 6–5 vote effectively blocked an aggressive push by mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, who argued that residents deserved a direct say on city funding amid a shifting economic climate.
Because the city is not legally required to secure voter approval for its portion of the $1.3 billion project, the decision clears the path for municipal officials to finalize a financing framework established last year. Under the existing terms, the Spurs will contribute $500 million, while Bexar County will provide $311 million, a portion already approved by county voters in 2025.
Following the council’s decision, Spurs sports & entertainment CEO RC Buford issued a statement expressing readiness to advance the downtown development.
“Today’s decision allows San Antonio to move forward on a path that was established through years of work, public discussion, City and County action and last year’s vote. We can now turn our full attention to delivering on that shared vision and the transformational opportunity ahead for our city.
We are grateful to the community, business and civic leaders, Spurs fans and residents who have taken the time to learn the facts and make their voices heard. There is still a great deal of work ahead, and we are ready for it. We remain committed to working alongside our public and community partners to deliver a downtown arena and district that strengthens San Antonio for generations to come.”
French superstar Victor Wembanyama captains the franchise, fueling the urgent push for a modern arena from the court.
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