{"id":405480,"date":"2026-08-13T13:12:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T13:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/405480\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T13:12:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T13:12:27","slug":"san-antonio-voters-will-get-another-vote-on-new-spurs-arena-whether-they-want-one-or-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/405480\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio voters will get another vote on new Spurs arena \u2014\u00a0whether they want one or not"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"A rendering provided by the city shows what Project Marvel could look like. Credit: Courtesy Image \/ City of San Antonio<\/p>\n

San Antonio City Council on Monday will debate Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones\u2019 request that the city\u2019s $489 million contribution to the new Spurs arena be added to the November ballot.<\/p>\n

While it appears unlikely Jones will succeed \u2014\u00a0a majority on council recently told KSAT<\/a> they oppose the proposal \u2014\u00a0city voters will likely get another say on the arena project anyway because voters must approve a bond to fund Hemisfair improvements needed before arena construction can get underway.<\/p>\n

According to the arena term sheet<\/a> that council approved last August, the availability of city funds for the project is \u201csubject in all respects\u201d to voters approving a city bond project \u201cto support the first phase of transportation and pedestrian infrastructure improvements for the Sports and Entertainment District\u201d around Hemisfair.<\/p>\n

City spokesperson Brian Chasnoff confirmed that, as of press time, citywide approval of the proposed $220 million-plus infrastructure bond and the broader Project Marvel sports-and-entertainment district is necessary before the city can disburse its $489 million contribution toward the NBA arena.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe proposed bond program and ballot structure have not yet been determined,\u201d Chasnoff said. \u201cStaff will brief City Council in September.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even so, Chasnoff said the bond election \u201cwould be a vote on public infrastructure funding \u2014\u00a0not a vote on the $489 million arena contribution\u201d \u2014 even though one is dependent on the other.<\/p>\n

City Manager Erik Walsh and City Attorney Andy Segovia didn\u2019t respond to the Current\u2019s questions about whether they informed Jones of the bond stipulation after she sent a memo to council colleagues<\/a> calling for the arena\u2019s public funding to be added to the November ballot.<\/p>\n

As of press time, Jones\u2019 office also hasn\u2019t responded to the Current\u2019s request for comment on the details in the term sheet.<\/p>\n

Unlike the downtown Spurs arena, which would be financed by a web of creative public financing<\/a> mechanisms, the money for the infrastructure improvements around Hemisfair would come from a general obligation bond, which must go to a public vote, according to Texas state law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

General obligation bonds are typically repaid through local property taxes or allocations from the city\u2019s general fund<\/a> to cover principal and interest.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why making sure people have the opportunity to vote on the city\u2019s contribution is important, because as we\u2019ve discussed, the city taxpayer is going to pay towards the county\u2019s $311 [contribution], they will pay towards the city\u2019s $489 million, and they will also pay towards the city\u2019s infrastructure bond,\u201d Jones told the Current last week after a town hall meeting. <\/p>\n

District 4 Councilman Ed Mungia has also advocated that the Hemisfair infrastructure bond vote be separate from other city bond projects so that residents will be able to have a say in that specific project.<\/p>\n

However, Jones told the Current she\u2019s unsure if that\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat infrastructure bond will go to voters,\u201d Jones said. \u201cIf you recall, there\u2019s always been a desire for some to say, \u2018Hey, I\u2019d like to vote on the downtown infrastructure all by itself.\u2019 But it doesn\u2019t look like that is possible. That\u2019s just kind of my sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones will hold the last public listening session<\/a> for input on her proposed public vote from 7 p.m.-8p.m. Wednesday at Blanco BBQ, 13259 Blanco Road.<\/p>\n

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

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe tour comes after Spurs Sports & Entertainment CEO R.C. Buford publicly pushed back at the idea of a citywide vote on public funding for the sports facility. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe mayor\u2019s call for a citywide vote on San Antonio\u2019s $489 million contribution toward a new Spurs arena apparently didn\u2019t sit well with Centro\u2019s Trish DeBerry. \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\tJones is calling for a citywide referendum on San Antonio\u2019s $489 million contribution to a new Spurs arena to be added to the November ballot. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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