Spectator Sports

Spectator sports in San Antonio can be divided into two eras—before 1973 and after 1973. Before 1973 it was a toss-­up as to whether the biggest game in town was college football or minor-­league baseball. In 1973 the San Antonio Spurs moved to town, bringing the unmistakable aura of big-­time sports to the Alamo City. That year began a series of developments, each of which solidified the city’s infatuation with the professional basketball team: In 1976 the Spurs became part of the National Basketball Association; and in 1993 the Alamodome opened as the Spurs’ home court. The peak of Spurs worship occurred in 1999 when the team won its first NBA Championship. Spurs worship continued with 2003, 2005, and 2007 World Championship wins. Other team sports have benefited from the Spurs’ popularity, too, as shown by the 2003 arrival of the Silver Stars WNBA team and the Rampage AHL hockey team.

Let’s face it: San Antonians just love their sports.