It was standing room only in council chambers on Thursday, much of the large crowd made up of developers, business leaders and downtown stakeholders anticipating a big reveal.
Plans for a downtown sports and entertainment district have long been rumored and now they were coming into focus as city staff displayed renderings and talked about next steps.
Along with an expanded convention center and hotel tower, the plans include a new Spurs arena, an improved Alamodome, acres of retail and residential development, new roads and infrastructure and a land bridge spanning Interstate 37.
The momentous project, described by City Manager Erik Walsh as “too big for us not to get it right,” will span at least 15 years, starting with a memorandum of understanding between the city, Bexar County and the San Antonio Spurs ownership.
“We’re committed to it. We have huge partnerships, some of them in the room, and we’re going to rely on them,” Walsh said.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg, whose term ends in May, is confident such an ambitious plan can be achieved even after he leaves office.
“A lot of people didn’t believe that the San Antonio Spurs could be the gold standard of sports franchises in the world, but look at what they’ve been able to accomplish, and I think our city can do the same thing,” he said.
Reactions were less than mixed among council members, who were largely supportive of pursuing the project and an agreement with the county.
Andres Andujar, president and CEO of Hemisfair, another monumental project that got its start in 2009 and where much of the proposed district would be, said he was excited about the plan and looks forward to its evolution.
The same can be said for most of the people the Report heard from in the days since — even as the question of how to pay for it all looms over the collective enthusiasm. Here’s what they had to say:
Peter J. Holt, managing partner, San Antonio Spurs: “San Antonio is a city on the rise, and our community deserves a world-class, accessible city center that unites us and delivers unforgettable experiences. A centrally located entertainment district anchored by the Spurs could help bring that vision to life, benefiting fans, families and the entire San Antonio region.”
RC Buford, CEO, Spurs Sports and Entertainment: “We’re thrilled to see the city’s interest and are looking forward to developing a collaborative process that includes input, dialogue and consensus from across our entire community.
“A new arena in downtown San Antonio represents a generational opportunity to shape the future of our community – fostering economic growth, celebrating our city’s identity and creating a vibrant gathering place for all.”
Lewis Vetter, president of the Conservation Society of San Antonio: “We still have some legitimate concerns, that we should be able to get the [Texas Historical Commision] and other elements looking at [the Institute of Texan Cultures] very seriously that it should be preserved.
“[As for the John H. Wood Courthouse], that was a theater in the first place … the fact that they’re going to return it to a theater is a really good idea, a good use of the existing structure.”
Trish DeBerry, president and CEO of Centro San Antonio: “There are still going to be lots of questions about who pays for it — we didn’t see a lot of details associated with cost. I’m in agreement that it’s big and bold and aspirational, and I think we need to be thinking like that.
“In downtown, when you look at peer cities — Nashville, Charleston, Las Vegas — everybody is investing in the downtown. The investment opportunity I think is huge but the devil is always in the details.”
David Adelman, developer of The ‘68 apartments in Hemisfair and other downtown properties: “It’s a heavy lift for the whole community. It’s a heavy lift for the public sector. It’s a heavy lift for the private sector. It’s a heavy lift for the Spurs. But we’re ready, and I think San Antonio was ready for this next level.
“I would definitely be pursuing any opportunities [in the sports and entertainment district]. Obviously, we own a building right in the heart of what is the district. And so we certainly have the experience, track record and a passion for it, and so I would absolutely be pursuing future opportunities as they come up.”
Robert Thrailkill, general manager of the Hilton Palacio del Rio: “The downtown market is underperforming where it was prior to COVID. It still is. There are probably a lot of good reasons for that, including … the construction [on downtown streets].
“[But] a brand-new downtown with an entertainment district and all that is going on is a wonderful story to share. The price tag for San Antonio may be a little rich, but we might be able to figure out for some of it. I think the market will determine whether the hotel … actually ever comes to reality.
“We put the expansion of the convention center in place, and then the market will dictate very clearly whether another hotel will be justified or required to support it.”
Thrailkill estimated that a hotel tower the size of what’s been proposed would cost between $400 million and $600 million to build.
Mark Moreno, a native San Antonian, far Northside resident and life-long Spurs fan: “I am super excited to hear about this bold plan. We need to find a way to make this happen. It will be expensive, however we need to look at this as a long-term investment that will pay dividends over the 50 years!”
Omar Gonzalez, director of development, Oxbow Development Group: “It’s kind of undoing some poor decisions that were [made over the years] by bringing back the things that matter to people into downtown. The other great cities in the world have their true gathering places in downtown and I think at the beginning of creating Hemisfair, that was the notion.
“In a way, we’re a really fortunate city, because we didn’t do anything from 1968 until 2012 and so we have this land that, yes, it has a tainted history with the eminent domain and all that, but at the end of the day, we have this publicly held land that we have a chance to re-look at … and say, maybe we can do something that is really powerful for the whole city and brings the community together and creates vibrancy, and it has lasting impacts for generations.”
What do you think? Text us your thoughts on the project by signing up for two-way texting with the San Antonio Report newsroom here or texting “HELLO” to (210) 796-6853.
