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San Antonio is working on a project to improve Downtown and create a new Sports & Entertainment District in Hemisfair.
The District will complete the redevelopment of Hemisfair to serve as the gathering space for the San Antonio community, including a new arena for the San Antonio Spurs. The vision is just beginning to come into focus and will be shaped by community input.
The District would include:
- 25+ acres of mixed-use development, such as restaurants, shops and community spaces for family friendly entertainment.
- Completed Tower Park, which the is the last phase of the Hemisfair master plan.
- Reconnected East Side of San Antonio to Hemisfair through a park over IH-37.
- Expanded Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center to stay competitive and attract conferences to San Antonio, which bring visitors to support the local economy.
- New state-of-the-art downtown arena for the world champion San Antonio Spurs.
- Upgraded Alamodome to continue to host major events and concerts that support the local economy.
- Converted former John Wood Courthouse into a live events venue.
- New Convention Center Hotel next to the Convention Center.
How It's Funded
The District will be paid for primarily by visitors, not local residents. Property taxes will only be used - if voters approve - for infrastructure, such as better streets and sidewalks to make it easier to park and get around downtown.
Here's where the funding for the Sports and Entertainment District comes from:
- Visitor Taxes
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- Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) on hotel stays.
- County Venue Tax on hotel stays and rental cars.
- State hotel-related taxes through the Project Finance Zone (PFZ), authorized by the Texas Legislature, which allowed for the creation of a 3-mile area where state hotel taxes are captured for 30 years and can be invested in convention center facilities.
- San Antonio Spurs
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The NBA team will make a substantial financial contribution to the cost of building the arena, in addition to a lease for the arena facility.
- Developers
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Developers that build in Hemisfair will contribute property taxes and pay ground leases.
View the Funding Source Table(PDF, 57KB).
Get Involved
The City wants your feedback! You can help shape the Sports & Entertainment District by sharing your ideas about public spaces, transportation, housing, and more.
Further opportunities for public input will continue as this project come to life.
Be Part of the Process
Workshops
Workshops were held in all 10 Council Districts from June through July. View presentations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Who will pay for the downtown Sports & Entertainment District's projects?
- The District will be paid for primarily by visitors, not residents. Property taxes will only be used-if voters approve-for infrastructure, such as better streets and sidewalks. Developer contributions and support from the Spurs would also help.
- Will my property taxes go up?
- No. The District would not be funded by residential property taxes, except for voter-approved infrastructure improvements. The property tax rate itself would not increase.
- Who is paying for the new Convention Center Hotel?
- Private companies would pay for the design, construction, and operation of the Convention Center hotel. Local taxpayers would not fund it.
- Why is expanding the Convention Center Important?
- San Antonio's convention industry is vital to our economy, and expanding the Henry B. González Convention Center is essential to staying competitive- both in Texas and nationally.
- The 2016 expansion was so successful that we're now at 70% occupancy, effectively full capacity, and we've lost an estimated $700 million in business over the past six years due to space limitations.
- The proposed expansion would add 200,000 square feet of space, allowing us to attract larger or multiple conventions simultaneously. This could bring in hundreds of millions more in economic impact and support local jobs and businesses. If we want to remain a top-tier destination, we can't afford to fall behind.
- What is the purpose of the land bridge?
- The land bridge would reconnect neighborhoods to downtown across I-37, making it easier for people to reach jobs, events, and other opportunities. A land bridge would also allow for far better pedestrian access from the Alamodome to the heart of the District.
- Why does the Alamodome need upgrades?
- The Alamodome is one of the largest venues in Texas and hosts major events like the Valero Alamo Bowl, UTSA Football, and concerts by artists such as Elton John, and Pink. It has also hosted the NCAA Final Four, which brought $440 million in economic impact to San Antonio.
- Upgrades are needed to keep the facility competitive, attract more major events like College Football Playoffs and international soccer, and ensure it continues to drive economic benefits for our community.
- What will happen to the John Wood Courthouse?
- The vacant former courthouse, which once served as the U.S. Pavilion during the 1968 World's Fair, will be transformed into a mid-sized venue for live performances and events, creating a much-needed entertainment space in the heart of downtown.
- San Antonio currently has limited options for venues with a capacity of up to 5,000 people. This new space would help fill that gap, providing a flexible option for smaller events and freeing up opportunities for the Alamodome to host more large events.
- Will the public have a say in these projects?
- Yes. Community feedback is a key part of the process. Two-day planning workshops took place throughout the city in each council district in June and July 2025 and a bilingual survey collected public input.
- Will there be a new arena for the Spurs?
- Voters will ultimately decide whether to approve funding for a new arena for the San Antonio Spurs. The District will complete the redevelopment of Hemisfair to serve as a gathering space for the San Antonio community.
Reports
Memos & Summaries
Below are each of the official memos and presentations from the City Council:
Presentations & Resources