Texas used to be the state with the most professional hockey franchises. Despite the consolidation of leagues, Texas still has a sizable hockey fan following. The reign of the San Antonio Rampage proved the city worthy to take on another professional sports team.
The addition of a professional hockey team would introduce diversity to local sports and create a new growing fanbase with immense potential. A “substantial and local population,” especially in San Antonio, has established an eager fan base for its sports.
Financially, ticket sales, retail and employment opportunities from hockey would bolster local businesses, increasing its appeal. Draft houses and eateries gain customer attraction, given the strong association of alcohol and sports. Additionally, traveling fans result in the need for accommodating boarding.
As of November 2024, plans for downtown San Antonio include a multi-billion dollar revamp of its sports and entertainment district, known as “Project Marvel.”
According to the San Antonio Report, “The proposal, revealed during a city council special session, also includes a new convention center hotel tower, an improved Alamodome, acres of retail and residential development, new roads and infrastructure and a land bridge spanning Interstate 37.”
With the Spurs being so heavily tied to this project and building space for exhibition, fan experience is largely focused and reported to potentially spread through the entire district. Due to the transformative intent throughout the city for revenue generation, why have the economic benefits of introducing a hockey team to San Antonio not been considered? The engagement extends far beyond traveling fans or the minority of targeted hockey enthusiasts, but it should be discussed how it could appeal to college students.
Hockey provides an extremely similar approach in a new environment. The question of where the hockey games would take place would be solved with Project Marvel. In downtown San Antonio specifically, the Alamodome Stadium is similar to the Frost Bank Center, which has speculation of just sitting there if not fortified. In order to house a sport like hockey the common practice of placing the basketball court on top of a hockey rink could provide a direct solution to that concern without investing in an entirely new arena.
Overall, hockey is a need in San Antonio and more than just another financial investment to be concerned with. San Antonio has the opportunity to make a power play within the sports world and open itself to a new wave of expansion. San Antonio should seize this opportunity to step onto the ice and make its mark on the national hockey scene.
