Spurs Moving back to DTSA? (Houston, Dallas: sales, real estate, rental)

[malcorub16]

https://twitter.com/ExpressNews/stat...7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Express news reports this as "Likely site for new San Antonio Spurs arena set to be sold or leased to the city." My personal opinion is this a great move for both the Spurs and the museum if it all comes to fruition. The Institute of Texan Cultures and its parking lot occupies so much prime real estate in downtown and it is one of those places that people visit once and never return to. Also, as close as it is to the rest of downtown, it's always felt closed off to pedestrian traffic because of the huge surrounding parking lots and fences unlike the Tower of the Americas and the Convention Centers which feel better connected. Moving it closer to the Alamo would likely mean higher attendance at the museum since there is so much more tourist foot traffic in that part of downtown.

[malcorub16]

[TexasRedneck]

So....what are they going to do with the OTHER two "Homes" previously built (with taxpayer dollars, of course) by the generous City of SA? Ongoing "convention" rental facilities?

Henry sure got a lot of mileage outta his "bucket of chicken".

[RadiantBaby]

I just want to see the breakdown of HOW this is paid for.

This city could use a lot of other things first before spending billions on yet another arena.

[malcorub16]

Oklahoma City just approved a 72 month (6 year) one cent sales tax to pay for their future new downtown arena.
$900 million dollars in tax funds from the city and only $50 million from the basketball franchise OKC Thunder which will be the main tenant. This is a laughable 5% contribution from the team. Their current downtown arena is a year older than Frost Center so about 22 years old.

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahom...-fair/45433449

https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/4658/140

The bad part of being in small markets is teams won't foot most of the bill for new arenas/stadiums like the Warriors did in San Francisco or the Clippers are currently doing in Los Angeles. Even in small market Sacramento, the Kings paid for 45% of their new arena being that using public funds for stadiums is frowned upon in this part of the country.

The Dallas Mavericks are also looking to move out of their 23 year old downtown American Airlines Arena soon. I am curious to see how a bigger Texas market like DFW handles paying for a new arena.

The Toyota Center in downtown Houston , home of the Rockets, is one NBA season younger than our Frost Center and opened in 2003. Not sure if there are talks in that city for a new arena.

[TexasRedneck]

And I'm sure we'll be regaled with the prospects of a "massive economic generator" for the proposed site....just as we were for the site of the present arena 20+ years ago...

Still waiting.

[RadiantBaby]

It's kinda sad how local government can keep fooling citizens with the same empty promises.

[Azure110]

I guess I am the outsider when I say this but I think it is a shame to tear down the hemisfair era building for another building that will just become another ugly convention center 20 years after it is built.

[TexasRedneck]

Originally Posted by Azure110

I guess I am the outsider when I say this but I think it is a shame to tear down the hemisfair era building for another building that will just become another ugly convention center 20 years after it is built.

Not at all - anyone that pays attention KNOWS it's just another big money project by the city and the CC. They've never met a money-wasting project they didn't want.

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by Azure110

I guess I am the outsider when I say this but I think it is a shame to tear down the hemisfair era building for another building that will just become another ugly convention center 20 years after it is built.

If built, it would be the fourth home for the Spurs since they moved to SA in 1973.

They started out in the Hemisfair arena, which was later expanded by raising the roof and adding seating. Then they moved to the Alamodome, after the hoped-for NFL franchise didn't materialize. An exterior brick facade collapsed on the arena, and the city decided better to demolish the now-underutilized facility, than repair. During the demolition phase, the Spurs came forward and announced that the Alamodome wasn't working for them, and they would need a new facility in order to remain a viable operation in San Antonio. So, we got the AT&T (now Frost Bank) Center. So now I guess the Frost Bank Center is getting a little long in the tooth, so they are seeking a new venue.

One thing I can tell you from past experience with the Spurs playing downtown, was that those seeking to visit other events or businesses downtown before or during games, might find parking virtually non-existent, even at "Event Pricing".