A conceptual rendering of what San Antonio sports district Project Marvel might look like in 15 years. Credit: Courtesy Image / City of San Antonio

Those who caught Thursday’s unveiling before City Council of Project Marvel — a proposed $4 billion downtown sports district that would include a new Spurs arena — were likely left with more questions than answers about what it will entail.

Indeed, other than a few renderings and a low-budget promo video, what Project Marvel actually is appears open to much interpretation. City staff, including Assistant City Manager Lori Houston, remained mum through the presentation on who ultimately will pay for the expansive, and expensive, project. 

Here’s what we do know after the briefing:

  • The plan includes construction of a new Spurs Arena and renovations to the aging Alamodome.
  • It also calls adding 150,000 square feet to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, building a new 20,000-square-foot University of Texas at San Antonio School of Hospitality and turning the empty John H. Wood Federal Courthouse into a 5,000-seat concert venue.
  • And it would erect another convention center hotel, adding 1,000 more hotel rooms downtown.
A conceptual drawing shows a proposed downtown concert venue that would be housed in a refurbished John H. Wood Jr. Federal Court House. Credit: Courtesy Image / City of San Antonio

While much public anticipation has swirled around the plans for a new Spurs arena, Thursday’s briefing was bigger on hyperbole than details. Houston was able to offer little about the proposed facility other than to say its presence downtown would be “transform” the community.

“It would be huge to have a Spurs arena downtown in the San Antonio Sports Entertainment District,” Houston said. “It’s all of these parts combined that make the energy that we want to see in San Antonio that will bring our locals downtown.”

Houston also maintained that big investments are needed for the Alamodome if San Antonio wants to keep hosting big-name concerts like Bad Bunny and sporting events such as the NCAA Final Four.

“We recently found out about a year ago that the NCAA is not going to be doing any more Final Fours in San Antonio than their commitment to the Women’s Final Four in 2029,” Houston said. “The reason for that is that our facility is too old, and they’re looking to go to newer facilities that have more premium seating and public space and public space opportunities they’re looking for.”

A timeline lays out when different aspects of Project Marvel might be completed. Credit: Courtesy Image / City of San Antonio

Although city staff didn’t provide a cost estimate for the Spurs arena and the Alamodome renovations, FoxSA reported Wednesday the two projects would have a combined $2.6 billion price tag.

During her presentation, Houston said the convention center expansion and new hotel are necessary if San Antonio wants to bring in more high-dollar corporate and organization gatherings.

San Antonio lost out on $700 million in potential revenue due to conventions looking elsewhere because of a lack of space at the Henry B. Gonzalez, she told council.

So, whose paying for those expensive additions to the San Antonio skyline? It appears to be anybody’s guess after Thursday’s unveiling.

“I know that’s on everybody’s mind, and so the answer is, ‘We don’t know yet,” Houston told the dais. “We’re looking for direction from council on that.”

The mega-project could be funded by a conglomerate of private funds, hotel and rental car tax increases and tax increments districts, she did reveal. Other possible revenue streams include parking revenue and state and federal grants.

Even so, neither Houston nor members of council ruled out that taxpayers be on the hook for some of the expense.

Overall, members of council appeared enthusiastic about the plan and appeared to green light Houston, City Manager Erik Walsh, City Attorney Andy Segovia and San Antonio Chief Financial Officer Ben Gorzell to explore the concept further.

“This is a city of big dreams, there’s no doubt bout that,” Nirenberg said in his closing remarks. “What separates us in this day in age right now, given all the big things that the city, City Council and community has been able to accomplish is that we are willing together to work toward it and execute.”

Staff will return on Dec. 4 to give council a briefing on the funding plan for the convention center. It’s unclear when the funding plans for the other aspects of Project Marvel might be revealed.

If all goes according to the timeline laid out during Houston’s presentation, a new Spurs arena would be built within the next five years, while the Alamodome renovation would happen over the next 15 years.

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This article appears in Nov 13-26, 2024.

Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...