A Friday memo from Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones asks City Council for a November vote on the $489 million San Antonio is putting toward the new Spurs arena.
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has requested that the City Council include the $489 million contribution for a new San Antonio Spurs arena on the November ballot.
Jones sent the request in a memo Friday afternoon to council members, City Manager Erik Walsh and City Attorney Andy Segovia. The memo calls for a citywide vote on the money San Antonio has committed to the $1.3 billion arena planned at Hemisfair, the anchor of the downtown sports and entertainment district known as Project Marvel.
"November would allow city voters to vote clearly informed by what they are paying, what they are receiving in return and whether the latter is good enough," Jones wrote in the memo.
Jones pointed to the $75 million in community benefits that Spurs Sports & Entertainment committed to under the term sheet. That figure breaks down to $2.5 million a year across the 30-year lease, with City Council deciding how the money is spent.
"Since they pay twice, city voters deserve to vote twice," Jones wrote in the memo.
Anything headed for the November ballot has to be added by Aug. 17.
On August 21, 2025, the City Council approved a nonbinding term sheet with the Spurs by a 7-4 vote after over three hours of public comments. Jones voted against it, as did Teri Castillo, Ric Galvan, and interim member Leo Castillo-Anguiano. Jones had requested an independent economic study and a halt to negotiations that day.
In November, Bexar County voters approved Proposition B with 52.14% support, enabling up to $311 million from hotel and rental taxes for the arena and activating the rest of the funding plan. The Spurs owe at least $500 million for construction and overruns. The arena opens in 2030, will be publicly owned, and leased to the Spurs, who must play all home games there during the lease.
The city's $489 million would be repaid through lease payments made by the team on the city-owned arena, the allocation of incremental property tax growth downtown over time and Project Finance Zone dollars. San Antonio plans to issue revenue bonds against those sources. That path does not require an election.
Jones' memo arrived during the city's budget cycle, as San Antonio faces a $157.7 million deficit and lower bond capacity for 2027. Downtown infrastructure needs are estimated at $220-$250 million. The City Council will get its proposed budget on August 13. Last week, Jones noted that potential department cuts could be more severe than initial staff proposals.
Jones noted Spurs leadership's disinterest in a revenue-sharing deal for the arena, despite her ongoing efforts to raise the issue over the past year.
District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte dismissed the push for a November vote as "ridiculous," referencing last year's debate and the subsequent council vote.
"We've already had a public debate and vote," Whyte told KENS 5. "No need to spend taxpayer dollars to do it again. The mayor should not mislead people into thinking the 489 million (dollars) can be used for general fund or basic city services around the city."
District 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears also came out against a November vote, telling KENS 5 it is time to respect the will of the voters and move the project forward. The office of District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez said he supported giving residents a voice on the question.
Between July 13 and July 23, the organization conducted 10 community listening sessions in San Antonio to collect resident feedback on the arena and the surrounding district. Prior to the first session, Bobby Perez, the chief legal officer of Spurs Sports & Entertainment, confirmed that all options remained under consideration for the district plans.
Earlier this year, city staff informed the council that detailed negotiations on the arena would likely not start until late summer, pending results from a district cost and revenue study. On May 7, the council approved two Project Marvel contracts: $6 million to Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects and $350,000 to MuniCap Inc., with a 10-1 vote. Jones was the sole member opposed to both agreements.
City officials have said they want an agreement with the Spurs on most terms, including community benefits, design and construction, and economic development, by the end of 2026.
