{"id":23374,"date":"2025-10-27T19:43:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/23374\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T19:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:43:09","slug":"nelson-wolff-critical-of-clumsy-project-marvel-rollout-unconcerned-if-arena-vote-fails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/23374\/","title":{"rendered":"Nelson Wolff critical of ‘clumsy’ Project Marvel rollout, unconcerned if arena vote fails"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff\u2019s resume includes stints as San Antonio mayor and a member of both the Texas House and Senate. Credit: Courtesy of St. Mary’s University<\/p>\n

Former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff told the Current there\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wolff \u2014\u00a0whose decades-long political career also includes stints as a state representative, state senator and San Antonio mayor \u2014\u00a0was also critical of leaders\u2019 \u201cclumsy\u201d handling of the arena proposal and their haste to get it on the November ballot, which he said may lead to its failure. <\/p>\n

Beyond that, Wolff said he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how they\u2019re going to fund everything \u2014 the arena, Alamodome, SAWS plant, the convention center,\u201d Wolff said. \u201cWhere\u2019s all this money coming from? Can they do it? It\u2019s confusing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

However, Wolff said Bexar County Commissioners Court shouldn\u2019t 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\u2019t become available until Aug. 17, nearly two weeks later. <\/p>\n

\u201cFirst 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,\u201d Wolff said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to at least put out the terms of the agreement so people have some idea what they\u2019re voting on.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 \u201cneck and neck.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c[Project Marvel] ranges anywhere from convention expansion to Alamodome renovations to reviving older buildings they got from the federal government to building a walkway \u2014\u00a0without speaking of where all this money is coming from to do all those things,\u201d Wolff said. \u201cSo, people are confused, and I\u2019m not sure how the election will turn out. I hear it\u2019s really close right now. It\u2019s just been confusing to a lot of voters.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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. <\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it took a little longer, the county could extend the lease [for the Spurs\u2019 existing arena],\u201d Wolff said. \u201cSo, there\u2019s time to do it, assuming all parties are willing to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us:\u00a0Apple News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>| Twitter<\/a>\u00a0| Or sign up for our\u00a0RSS Feed<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/p>\n

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

\n\t\t\t\t\t\u2018They are all a lying bunch of sons of bitches, every one one of them,\u2019 the outgoing county judge said of sports franchises who have teased relocating to the Alamo City.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\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

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

\n\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Please, please go vote yes for Props. A and B. this week,\u2019 Holt told the sold-out crowd at the Frost Bank Center. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t