Project Marvel

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones joins TPR's The Source to discuss Project Marvel and the possibility of hitting pause on the negotiations for a new downtown home for the Spurs and the development of a sports and entertainment district.

The city council was expected to take two key votes moving Project Marvel forward later this month.

The Texas Attorney General's Office has to review the venue tax proposal before it can be placed on the ballot.

Members of the No! Project Marvel Coalition, a group of grassroots San Antonio advocacy organizations, want a new, independent economic impact report to analyze financial impact of the sports and entertainment district project.

The report includes an estimate that the Spurs arena will generate over $300 million in annual net economic impact. Some councilmembers find the figures encouraging, while others on council and in the community doubt their legitimacy.

The proposed 4,000 to 6,000 seat theater would be funded by tourist tax dollars and private corporations. However, at least one San Antonio musician would rather see the city invest in smaller venues where local musicians could perform.

The San Antonio Spurs have asked that the City of San Antonio contribute $500 million to the arena's construction.

The city has held community workshops in every city council district to inform residents about it and gather their feedback.

The San Antonio sports teams topped Tuesday's Bexar County commissioners meeting.

Plans for the project include a new Spurs arena, upgrading the Alamodome, constructing a land bridge over Interstate 37, and renovating the former John H. Wood Jr. Federal Courthouse into a live events venue.