{"id":178713,"date":"2026-02-24T23:01:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T23:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/178713\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T23:01:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T23:01:11","slug":"san-antonio-mayor-again-calls-on-spurs-to-cough-up-more-cash-for-project-marvel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/178713\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio mayor again calls on Spurs to cough up more cash for Project Marvel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, right, attends a town hall last week alongside Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez. Credit: Michael Karlis<\/p>\n

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones continues to lob criticism at pricy downtown development Project Marvel, this time telling East Side voters she wants the San Antonio Spurs to foot more of the bill.<\/p>\n

As part of a non-binding term sheet between the city and Spurs Sports & Entertainment, the NBA franchise promised to pay $75 million to City Hall over<\/a> the next 30 years in exchange for $489 million in public financing for a new basketball arena at Hemisfair. The team\u2019s contribution is part of a Community Benefits Agreement, or CBA, comprised of cash the city is free to spend as its see fit with no strings attached.<\/p>\n

However, at District 2 town hall last Thursday, Jones said Spurs\u2019 total contribution is paltry considering the city\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventy-five-million-dollars over 30 years, that\u2019s $2.5 million a year,\u201d Jones told . \u201cYou know how much it costs to do a speed bump? Sixteen-thousand dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones continued: \u201cTwo-point-five million dollars divided by $16,000, that\u2019s 156 speed bumps \u2014\u00a0156 speed bumps divided by 10 districts, that\u2019s 15 speed bumps [per year] for 30 years in exchange for $489 million.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones\u2019s arithmetic draw loud applause from the crowd in District 2, which overwhelmingly rejected Proposition B<\/a> during the November election. That ballot item approved the use of taxpayer dollars to help fund a new Spurs arena \u2014\u00a0a centerpiece of Project Marvel, the city\u2019s proposed $4 billion sports-and-entertainment district.<\/p>\n

Project Marvel\u2019s backers praised the Spurs\u2019 CBA, and the NBA franchise\u2019s monetary pledge also figured heavily into marketing materials<\/a> it used to convince voters to back Prop B. <\/p>\n

Although Bexar County voters passed Prop B by fewer than 10,000 votes, the finalized term sheet between the city and SS&E detailing the financing for the new basketball arena has yet to be finalized. Indeed, the city hasn\u2019t even acquired the land where the new facility would be constructed. <\/p>\n

With that much still unsettled, Jones promised to keep fighting for a better CBA from the Spurs.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, it\u2019s important, with this non-binding term sheet that we currently have, that we continue to ask for more,\u201d Jones told the District 2 crowd. \u201cBut, now, when I ask for more, I need you to have my back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones\u2019 demand that the Spurs come up with more cash comes less than a month after the mayor railed against billionaire Spurs co-owner Michael Dell<\/a> for giving the Trump White House a historic $6 billion donation that she said could have bankrolled the San Antonio arena.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\u2018I wonder if he was able to do that because the city gave up so much money for the arena,\u2019 Jones said of billionaire Michael Dell.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Project\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe news comes as Bexar County residents head to the polls to decide whether to approve a new Spurs arena. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tOne political expert warns the vote could come back to bite council members who sought it, especially if the public perceives the move as a waste of time. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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