Any hopes the Spurs had of including a public funding measure for a new downtown arena on the May 2025 ballot have “apparently ended” after Bexar County officials confirmed that November would “be the soonest an arena vote could go before voters,” according to W. Scott Bailey of the SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL. County officials had discussed a pair of items in January “aimed at advancing arena discussions.” They included a resolution submitted by the Spurs for “ballot language for a venue tax election,” as well as a “memorandum of understanding” involving Bexar County, the city of San Antonio and San Antonio Spurs LLC. However, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai warned that “public officials needed more time and information as the deadline to get the arena measure on a May ballot was February.” Some arena supporters have warned that a November election “could prove a tougher win.” Bailey notes a November arena referendum also is “not a guarantee at this point” and it is “possible a vote could get pushed back to 2026.” The Spurs agreement with the county for use of Frost Bank Center ends in 2031. Proponents of a new Spurs arena believe it could “anchor a larger downtown sports and entertainment district that could include a new convention center hotel, significant Alamodome improvements and other complementary development” (SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/13).
