Following an announcement that the Institute of Texan Cultures, and the real estate it resides on, will be leased to the City of San Antonio, rumors began circulating about a possible move to Hemisfair for the San Antonio Spurs. These rumors may finally be put to rest. According to the San Antonio Express-News, Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) have confirmed that they are in negotiations with the city to embark on a joint economic venture on the ITC property.
The intent by SS&E to partner with the City of San Antonio to construct a new arena in the Hemisfair district was discovered in a letter by SS&E to Attorney General Ken Paxton. The letter was written to argue against disclosing information about the project requested by the San Antonio Express-News under the Texas open records law.
In the letter, SS&E discloses that the records being requested by the San Antonio Express-News contained details about negotiations between SS&E, the city of San Antonio and other third parties about the possible development of land into a new arena for the organization. The negotiations have not been finalized, and the potential location for the new arena has not been disclosed to the public. The letter alleges that “Prematurely disclosing the location of these properties will adversely affect all parties’ planning and negotiating positions including SS&E’s.”
Rumors of the potential move for the Spurs back to the Hemisfair district have been reported since July of 2023 when a source confirmed to KSAT12 that discussions concerning the feasibility of a move downtown were taking place between SS&E and the City of San Antonio.
The Spurs currently call the Frost Bank Center home since its debut in the 2002-03 NBA season. Previously, the Spurs played in the HemisFair Arena from 1973 until 1993, when the facility was demolished.
This is a developing story.
