<\/p>\n
A rendering shows what one of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo\u2019s buildings on the grounds of the Freeman Coliseum and Frost Bank Center could look like.<\/p>\n
The Coliseum Advisory Board and the San Antonio Livestock Exposition Inc.<\/p>\n
A rendering shows what one of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo\u2019s buildings on the grounds of the Freeman Coliseum and Frost Bank Center could look like.<\/p>\n
The Coliseum Advisory Board and the San Antonio Livestock Exposition Inc.<\/p>\n
A rendering shows what the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo\u2019s buildings on the grounds of the Freeman Coliseum and Frost Bank Center could look like.<\/p>\n
The Coliseum Advisory Board and the San Antonio Livestock Exposition Inc.<\/p>\n
A conceptual plan shows ideas a development group provided for the Frost Bank Center grounds and Willow Springs Golf Course in response to a public solicitation.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Hunt Development Group<\/p>\n
Amid\u00a0tension between\u00a0leaders of Bexar County and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo<\/a> over the future of the Frost Bank Center grounds, county officials made nice Tuesday, signaling their support for advancing the rodeo\u2019s expansion plans.<\/p>\n But CEO Cody Davenport said concepts floated by a private development group for the property\u00a0\u2014 which he says clash with the rodeo\u2019s pitch to voters last year\u00a0\u2014 could still be in play.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n In a unanimous vote, with little discussion, Commissioners Court gave Judge Peter\u00a0Sakai the go-ahead to negotiate the first of several agreements outlining how $193 million in hotel and rental car taxes \u2014 which voters approved in November under Proposition A \u2014 will be used to upgrade the East Side arena, Freeman Coliseum and adjacent properties.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the first step,\u201d Davenport told commissioners. \u201cIt\u2019s good to see us all working together like this.\u201d<\/p>\n The county\u2019s public solicitation for developers\u2019 ideas for the area and its willingness to entertain concepts from a group of private companies while simultaneously advocating for Proposition A has roiled rodeo leaders, who view it as a violation of voters\u2019 trust.<\/p>\n They say it conflicts with the improvements the nonprofit San Antonio Livestock Exposition Inc. plans to remake the Frost Bank Center grounds to host Western shows, auctions and competitions year-round.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The organization currently controls the county-owned coliseum grounds for only a few weeks a year for its annual stock show and rodeo, but wants to expand when the Spurs move to a new arena downtown.<\/p>\n SALE \u201cwill serve as the primary developer, coordinating and managing all phases of the improvements,\u201d county staff said in a memo about a framework document called a grant and development agreement. The agreement will require final approval from commissioners.<\/p>\n Next up to negotiate: a licensing agreement, which would establish how the grounds will be used. The rodeo recently sent a draft of the agreement to the county, Davenport said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way this thing is written right now does not keep outside development from encroaching on us,\u201d Davenport said of the grant and development agreement. \u201cThat will happen inside of the licensing agreement, which is the big one. That\u2019s the next step. We\u2019re very anxious to get to work and get this thing in front of them as fast as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Davenport has pushed officials to proceed with the rodeo\u2019s plan since learning about ideas floated by a team led by El Paso-based Hunt Development Group and Dallas-based Lincoln Property Co. The group proposes building housing, hotel rooms, parking garages, commercial space and facilities for the rodeo on the Frost Bank Center grounds and Willow Springs Golf Course nearby.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n