Propositions A and B, concerning the revitalization of the Frost Bank Center, the surrounding rodeo grounds and the construction of a new downtown arena for the San Antonio Spurs, both passed in the most recent Bexar County election. Strong support was reported from San Antonio’s North and Northwest sides, while there was considerable opposition from the East and South sides. Prop A passed with 55.91% support and Prop B passed with 52.14% support. 

With both projects approved, voters await the next steps. While there are many unknowns about the arena project and the greater Project Marvel, The Paisano followed up with Professor of Public Administration Heywood Sanders to discuss what voters can expect in the coming months and beyond. 

Groundbreaking, construction progress

“It certainly won’t be immediately,” Sanders said when asked how soon voters can expect progress on construction. “Now that the venue tax has been approved, the county will have to do a bond issue, because it doesn’t have the money in hand.”

Now that voters have approved funding for the new arena project, the county will turn to the bond market, selling municipal bonds to investors to source funding for construction costs. 

However, even when the county acquires funding for the project, it is unclear how quickly groundbreaking on the new arena will occur. The most recent timeline estimation provided by the City of San Antonio originates from an initial presentation about Project Marvel from Nov. 21, 2024. The presentation estimates that construction will begin in the second quarter of 2026 and will conclude in the second quarter of 2028. This does not account for any infrastructure or roadway upgrades that will occur in conjunction with the new arena’s construction. No updated timeline has been provided at the time of reporting.

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones issues statement of support

Following the approval of Prop. B, of which Mayor Jones was a vocal skeptic, she released a statement of support for the project, committing to work with colleagues, investors and community leaders over the course of the project. 

“Our urban core represents an opportunity to remake a vital part of our city — one that can drive economic activity, create quality jobs and add affordable housing stock that our community desperately needs. I remain committed to working with Council colleagues, City Staff, the Spurs and with community leaders to develop a plan that ushers in an era of progress and affordability downtown,” Jones said. 

However, in accordance with her historical stance against the secretive nature of Project Marvel, Jones may seek further community involvement as more elements of Project Marvel are implemented. 

“They can do it in any way they want,” Sanders said when asked what form community involvement may take. “Typically, there is an extended public process on these things in which various details of the project are presented to the public for input and discussion. 

“Those could involve anything from specifics on the arena involving citing, design, traffic access, parking and the like. There could well be a public process that examines the proposed convention center expansion. Another piece of the project is a proposal for a 1,000 room, convention-center-oriented hotel. That hotel, the city staff has already indicated, may well require public incentives or subsidies. There should be a public discussion of that.”

Additional city funding for related projects

The passing of Prop. B has now begun the process of allocating public funds to contribute to the new downtown Spurs arena — much of which will be funded by the Spurs themselves, as outlined in the term sheet signed by both Spurs Sports & Entertainment and the City of San Antonio. The total cost of the arena is estimated to be $1.3 billion, with $500 million coming from SS&E and $800 million coming from the City of San Antonio and Bexar County. 

However, the City of San Antonio released the estimated costs for necessary infrastructure upgrades in the immediate vicinity of the new Spurs arena, estimated to forecast a $250 million price tag. These infrastructure investments would include road upgrades, signal improvements, new pedestrian bridges, on-ramp construction and parking upgrades. It has not been made clear if public funding for these upgrades will require voter approval.

When it comes to funding for other projects related to Project Marvel, including convention center renovations, Alamodome renovations and hotel construction, voters may not get the opportunity to vote on the further use of public funds for these projects. These projects would be financed through funds collected by Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones and Project Finance Zones, which are not subject to public approval.

“It’s fundamentally up to the city council,” Sanders said. “The TIRZ does not require a public vote. The PFZ does not require a public vote. Its proposed expansion to the convention center with the city’s hotel occupancy tax revenues does not require a public vote. Those same revenues could be used, along with any of the others except for [those originating from] the TIRZ, to support the Alamodome, and those do not require a public vote.

“It’s possible that the city council will see [Prop. B] as a green light for the entire [Project Marvel].”

This is a developing story. More updates will be provided at paisano-online.com as they become available.