Dozens of members from the Spurs organization, including Chairman Peter J. Holt and former championship-winning Spurs player Sean Elliott, spoke to the council in support of the project moving forward.
“I can say without hesitation that no other professional sports franchise engages the community like the San Antonio Spurs do,” Elliot said.
He said the Spurs’ commitment to the city is what have made so many former players like him choose to stay in San Antonio after their careers ended.
Holt said the $2 billion investment the Spurs were making was historic and led to a positive outcome for everyone.
The arena will be “owned by the public, paid by tourists, and operated by the Spurs,” Holt said — a “winning combination.”
The Spurs arena would be owned by a subsidiary entity controlled by the city, and a large portion of the funding coming from the county and city would be from taxes levied on tourists staying in local hotels and renting vehicles.