With the proposed downtown San Antonio Spurs area and leisure district on the poll, San Antonio is at a tipping level.
The Nov. 4 election is the primary and maybe solely probability the voters need to weigh in on funding for the sector by means of a poll measure often called Proposition B.
The plans have sparked dialog in regards to the Spurs’ position in shaping the town and its future, a subject our nonprofit newsroom is taking over in our annual CityFest occasion, occurring this week. CityFest 2025 is bringing collectively essentially the most influential leaders and stakeholders to unpack the monetary and cultural implications of the proposed downtown Spurs area, however the dialog isn’t full with out the voices of on a regular basis San Antonians.
The Metropolis of San Antonio expects the brand new Spurs area to anchor a brand new sports activities and leisure district close to Hemisfair, often called Mission Marvel, which would come with housing and mixed-use growth.
We visited Pearl Farmers Market and the Mission Open Air Market and turned our lens to the individuals of San Antonio. We requested two questions: 1. How have the Spurs formed San Antonio? and a couple of. Do you agree with public funding going towards a downtown Spurs area and leisure district? Why or why not?
Right here’s a roundup of a few of their responses.
Editor’s word: The views expressed on this photograph essay belong to the people interviewed. They’ve been edited for size and readability.
Gregory McEwen, 36
“Public funding, funding personal revenue is a troublesome go. … So what’s it additionally that they’re doing to profit the general public? I’m OK with that if in addition they have choices to profit small enterprise and locals within the space and don’t worth them out.”
Ruben Guerrero, 26
“The Spurs are household. San Antonio is household. It’s nonetheless small city, large metropolis, after which with this new Mission Marvel, I’m excited simply because it’s gonna develop.”
Sarah Ramirez, 28
“If nearly all of the infrastructure funding goes to downtown to accommodate this new constructing, when are they ever going to get to the rest? So no, I’m not for it and I believe the town ought to put that cash actually again into the town for different elements of city, as an alternative of simply downtown, as a result of that’s for vacationers, not for San Antonians.”
Jeffrey Lopez, 37
“The Spurs are actually the one constant main league crew that we’ve ever had and so loads of San Antonio’s tradition is constructed across the Spurs. … I believe that San Antonio’s downtown has much more that we will supply. … Having the Spurs again downtown and having the town constructed round that can assist complement one another.”
Lenny Arias, 25
“I can’t think about why they’d need to construct one other area, not to mention with public funding — one thing that may go towards the roads or the rest. I’m positive it could be nice to have one other area, most likely for a lot of functions. However the Alamodome proper now … there’s all types of issues there. They may simply have them be at house there.”
Melissa Perez, 29
“I positively assume that they’ve contributed to the group and the tradition. … I believe the sector is a good suggestion, however I don’t assume public funding ought to go towards it simply because I really feel like there’s greater points inside San Antonio, particularly with all the development — all the stuff that must be fastened, that’s not fastened.”
Alejandro Chapa
“It’s very troublesome to offer an opinion. I imply, all of it relies upon — If it’s useful for us as followers, I’d lend a hand. However, if it’s solely useful for the crew, I don’t agree.”
Cheri White, 67
“We’ve received loads of homeless individuals in San Antonio and I may see cash spent in a greater manner. The Spurs are megamillionaires at this level. I believe we must always contribute one thing as a result of we’ll profit as a metropolis, however I don’t assume it must be an enormous quantity the place we minimize different applications which might be so needed.”
Isabel Stahl, 69
“I’m in assist, however not all in assist. However I’m in assist so far as how they assist faculties, all the issues that they do. I consider they’re doing good for San Antonio.”
Victoria Palacios, 38
“I perceive why they need to do this. Nevertheless, I really feel like there’s so many different issues that public funding may go to as an alternative of simply one other sports activities crew. I really feel just like the Spurs might keep regardless. I imply we’ve constructed them what number of arenas already? It began with the Freeman and Alamodome after which AT&T after which now these have gotten out of date. We’re going to have all these arenas, for what?”
Humberto Barrera, 72
“I’m not going to get something out of it, since I’m not a fan. I believe they make sufficient cash that they’ll afford it. Their bosses and the group make hundreds of thousands of {dollars}. Why ought to I contribute to what they need? Easy as that.”
Richard Alvarado, 26
“Each metropolis is form of getting greater and larger and finally we’re going to need to comply with that course of too, you already know? We will nonetheless form of stick to that very same outdated tradition however finally we’re going to need to have one thing new to herald extra income, extra stuff across the downtown space.”
