Nelson Wolff critical of 'clumsy' Project Marvel rollout, unconcerned if arena vote fails

Former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff’s resume includes stints as San Antonio mayor and a member of both the Texas House and Senate. Credit: Courtesy of St. Mary’s University

Former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff told the Current there’s plenty of time for the city and county to reach a deal with the San Antonio Spurs, even if voters reject a proposal for a new publicly financed arena on Nov. 4.

Wolff — whose decades-long political career also includes stints as a state representative, state senator and San Antonio mayor — was also critical of leaders’ “clumsy” handling of the arena proposal and their haste to get it on the November ballot, which he said may lead to its failure.

Beyond that, Wolff said he’s concerned about how the city and county will pay for the myriad components that make up Project Marvel, the ambitious $4 billion downtown sports-and-entertainment complex for which the arena is to the crown jewel.

“I don’t know how they’re going to fund everything — the arena, Alamodome, SAWS plant, the convention center,” Wolff said. “Where’s all this money coming from? Can they do it? It’s confusing.”

Bexar County voters have already begun casting ballots to decide whether to raise the county visitor tax to 2% to help pay for a new Spurs arena at Hemisfair. Property and sales taxes also will be used to fund the venue should voters approve the tax increase this election cycle.

However, Wolff said Bexar County Commissioners Court shouldn’t have called the vote before looking at the term sheet laying out the deal between the city and Spurs Sports & Entertainment. Commissioners held their vote Aug. 5, but the term sheet didn’t become available until Aug. 17, nearly two weeks later.

“First of all, I would have waited until I understood what the hell I was calling an election for, and have some input on what the terms of the agreement would be,” Wolff said. “You’ve got to at least put out the terms of the agreement so people have some idea what they’re voting on.”

The speed at which the arena went up for a vote, combined with local leaders rolling the proposed facility into Project Marvel, has confused voters, risking a ballot-box failure, according to Wolff. Citing unnamed sources and internal polling, he said the arena vote now appears “neck and neck.”

“[Project Marvel] ranges anywhere from convention expansion to Alamodome renovations to reviving older buildings they got from the federal government to building a walkway — without speaking of where all this money is coming from to do all those things,” Wolff said. “So, people are confused, and I’m not sure how the election will turn out. I hear it’s really close right now. It’s just been confusing to a lot of voters.”

Former Assistant City Manager Lori Houston earlier this month said she regrets including the proposed arena in the public rollout of Project Marvel, which still remains largely conceptual at press time.

However, it the arena vote does fail, Wolff dismissed concerns the Spurs will immediately pack their bags and leave town, a claim some sports fans and even City Council members have shared without supporting evidence.

Wolff also said he believes Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones when she says she wants a deal with the Spurs and is eager to continue negotiations.

“If it took a little longer, the county could extend the lease [for the Spurs’ existing arena],” Wolff said. “So, there’s time to do it, assuming all parties are willing to do it.”

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Nelson Wolff critical of ‘clumsy’ Project Marvel rollout, unconcerned if arena vote fails

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