SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The San Antonio City Council will meet to deliberate a resolution that proposes delaying the approval of a term sheet for a new downtown arena for the San Antonio Spurs.
The estimated cost of the arena ranges from $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion.
The proposed resolution calls for an independent economic impact study to be completed before the city moves forward with financial commitments to the project. While the city has indicated its willingness to partially fund the arena through a bond structure, concerns have been raised by residents over the potential use of public funds.
City officials and representatives from the Spurs organization remain in active negotiations regarding the project. Although non-binding terms have previously been discussed, the final details of the funding agreement have not been formalized.
The arena project is a component of Project Marvel, a broader downtown development initiative. However, the plan has sparked debate among city leaders and community members. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has urged a temporary pause in negotiations to allow for a more measured review of the financial and economic implications.
City Manager Erik Walsh informed the mayor and council that negotiations with the Spurs have been productive and that a consensus on the terms is within reach. He added that delaying approval to conduct the impact study is an important step to ensure transparency and maintain public trust.
Council members will weigh whether to proceed with the term sheet or postpone approval until the findings of the economic study are available.