Published on April 04, 2025
Downtown Sports and Entertainment District Tips Off with Signed Memorandum of Understanding
SAN ANTONIO (April 4, 2025) – The City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and San Antonio Spurs have taken a significant first step toward establishing a new downtown Sports and Entertainment District, relocating the San Antonio Spurs to a downtown arena, and reimagining the area around the Frost Bank Center. On Friday, the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and San Antonio Spurs signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), showing their desire to work collaboratively to plan and accomplish these goals.
“This agreement to pursue a downtown sports and entertainment district that includes the Spurs represents a shared commitment to the future of our community,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. “It also allows us to begin a thoughtful and transparent process—not only to explore what will be necessary to fund this project, but also to engage directly with our residents to better understand their needs and priorities. San Antonio deserves world-class opportunities, and our residents deserve to have a voice in shaping them.”
The Sports and Entertainment District will combine sports, entertainment, dining, shopping, and residential uses to attract locals and tourists, boost the economy, and create a common space that is accessible to the entire community. The District will include an expansion of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, a new Convention Center Hotel, a land bridge over I-37 to connect the East Side to downtown, improvements to the Alamodome, renovation of the John Wood Courthouse into a live entertainment venue, mixed-use development, enhanced infrastructure, and a new Spurs arena.
“I am happy that we have worked together to finalize this MOU. We are looking forward to a potential November venue tax election to allow voters to voice their opinion on the new Spurs arena, which is the only component of Project Marvel involving Bexar County,” Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai said. “The venue tax will also be critical for us to deliver on my pledge to redevelop the East Side and use some of those funds to pay for much-needed improvements and upgrades to the Frost Bank Center, Freeman Coliseum and the surrounding area.”
The San Antonio Spurs are an iconic NBA basketball team with deep roots in the economy and culture of San Antonio and Bexar County.
From 1973 to 1993, the Spurs played at HemisFair Arena, a downtown facility that eventually was razed, before moving to the Alamodome. In November 1999, voters approved the County’s venue tax to fund the construction of a basketball arena for the Spurs. The Spurs left the Alamodome for the County-owned Frost Bank Center in 2002. The Spurs’ lease at the Frost Bank Center expires in 2032.
“We appreciate the partnership between the City and County as we take steps together in exploring a future downtown Spurs arena,” Spurs CEO RC Buford said. “This is an exciting project that we believe presents the opportunity to energize our economy, strengthen our community and position San Antonio for long-term success.”
For more information about the Sports and Entertainment district, a copy of the MOU and to sign up for updates, visit SASpeakUp.com/SportsDistrict.
City of San Antonio
Luke Simons
210-207-6925
Email Media Contact
Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai
Jim Lefko
210-335-2280
Jim.Lefko@bexar.org
Spurs Sports & Entertainment
Liberty Swift
214-726-5811
LSwift@spurs.com
SASpeakUp
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Downtown Sports and Entertainment District Tips Off with Signed MOU – City of San Antonio (.gov)
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