Bexar County commissioners voted this week during a Commissioners Court meeting in San Antonio to revise a financing agreement tied to a $160 million downtown ballpark project for the San Antonio Missions, scheduled to open in 2028.
Under the revised agreement, the owners of the Missions, referred to as Designated Bidders, will pay 4% annual interest on a $10 million county loan. The county will also receive two parcels of land in the San Pedro Creek Culture Park area near existing and planned county parking facilities. Commissioners also approved releasing the county’s share of a guarantee connected to the Houston Street Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.
The planned ballpark will sit at North Flores, Camaron, and Kingsbury streets in downtown San Antonio. The stadium will seat about 4,500 fans and include additional standing and lounge areas that accommodate a similar number of spectators.
Daniel Ortiz, an attorney for the Missions, said the county will receive full repayment of the $10 million loan plus interest, with funds directed to the county’s general fund.
Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding in 2024 with Designated Bidders, developer Weston Urban, and the San Antonio Independent School District outlining the financing structure for the project. Designated Bidders have committed $34 million toward the development. The San Pedro Creek Development Authority, which includes the county, the city of San Antonio, and Weston Urban, continues to finance much of the project through bonds and a tax increment reinvestment zone.
The ballpark site falls within Bexar County Precinct 2. Commissioner Justin Rodriguez said during Tuesday’s meeting that the restructuring addresses a funding gap in the project. He said the county provides a loan and receives public park space in return.
Weston Urban chief executive Randy Smith said the company continues to work with the county on additional downtown projects, including mixed-income housing developments along the San Pedro Creek corridor.
Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai said the project agreement involves housing, economic development, and downtown redevelopment efforts in coordination with county, city, and team stakeholders.
The new stadium will replace Nelson Wolff Stadium, which currently serves as the home field for the San Antonio Missions. Major League Baseball has identified the existing stadium, built in 1994, as below league standards and required upgrades to maintain the team’s affiliation with the San Diego Padres.