San Antonio Council Rejects Public Vote on $489M Spurs Arena Funding

Posted : 18 August 2026

The San Antonio City Council has rejected a proposal to let voters decide on the city’s planned $489 million contribution toward a new downtown arena for the San Antonio Spurs. The measure failed by a narrow 6-5 vote on Monday, meaning the issue will not appear on the November 3 midterm ballot.

The decision follows a previous vote in Bexar County, where residents approved $311 million in venue tax funding for the arena project last November. Proposition B passed with 52.1% support and authorized increases to taxes connected to hotel stays and short-term car rentals.

The proposed arena is expected to cost around $1.3 billion, with the Spurs committing at least $500 million and agreeing to cover construction cost overruns. The remaining public funding would include the county's contribution and the city's $489 million share.

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones had pushed for a separate citywide vote, arguing that San Antonio residents deserved a direct say on the city's portion of the financing. She also pointed to the city's projected $158 million budget deficit for 2027, saying the financial circumstances had changed since the county vote.

However, opponents of another referendum argued that voters had already expressed their support for the arena project through last year's countywide election. They also noted that the city was not legally required to hold a referendum before committing its share of the funding.

The city's contribution is expected to be financed through a combination of sources, including bonds repaid with Spurs lease payments, revenue from the Hemisfair Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone and the Project Finance Zone.

Spurs CEO R.C. Buford welcomed the council's decision and said the organization could now concentrate on delivering the proposed downtown arena and surrounding development. He thanked residents, business leaders and community representatives who had participated in discussions about the project.

Although the council rejected a direct vote on the $489 million contribution, San Antonio residents could still have to vote on a separate infrastructure bond needed to support improvements around the proposed arena site. Under the city's current framework, approval of that bond is tied to the release of the city's arena funding.

San Antonio Council Rejects Public Vote on $489M Spurs Arena Funding

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