SAN ANTONIO ­— Bexar County voters are slightly in favor of raising the county’s venue tax to expand the San Antonio Stock and Rodeo grounds over using the tax to fund a new San Antonio Spurs arena, according to a recent poll from the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Center for Public Opinion Research.  

The poll asked 660 Bexar County voters for their opinions about the two November ballot propositions associated with Project Marvel, a proposal for a new sports and entertainment district downtown.

Around 44% of respondents said they would vote in favor of expanding the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo grounds (Proposition A), which includes the redevelopment of the Spurs’ current arena at Frost Bank Center. About 15% of voters said they are unsure while 41% said they are against the proposal.

Voters are slightly less supportive of using the tax to fund part of building a new arena for the Spurs. About 40% are in favor of using a venue tax to fund part of a $1.3 billion Spurs arena in Hemisfair, which is unchanged from attitudes expressed this April. However, those opposed to the proposition rose to 46% from 44%. Around 14% of voters remain unsure.

“Support for ballot propositions is always very fluid, especially in this case where the subject matter — a venue tax — is pretty dense, and there are organized campaigns looking to change minds and mobilize voters in the run-up the election,” said Bryan Gervais, UT San Antonio professor of political science and CPOR director. “That said, it’s fair to say that the effort to secure venue tax funding for a new Spurs arena faces an uphill battle.”

Overall, the poll showed favor for Project Marvel, with 45% of voters in support and 40% opposed. The project encompasses construction of a new San Antonio Spurs arena, a land bridge over Interstate 37 and expansions of Henry. B. Gonzalez Convention Center and the Alamodome.

CPOR’s poll was administered via computer-assisted, self-interviewing software in English and Spanish from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.8%.

The election for those two propositions will take place Tuesday, Nov. 4, however early voting begins Oct. 20.