SAN ANTONIO – More than 350 people attended to discuss the future of the Frost Bank Center during town hall meetings held by a Bexar County commissioner over the past two Saturdays.
Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert hosted the town hall meeting with other local and state leaders on Saturday.
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Conversations revolved around potential new uses for the arena if the San Antonio Spurs moved to a new stadium downtown, commonly known as Project Marvel.
Calvert said there was no shortage of good ideas shared at these meetings but noticed a significant theme emerge: people on the East Side said they have many issues with broken promises.
“These town halls are really a reality check on the PR campaigns that are often done over these kinds of development projects,” Calvert said.
"I really don’t care about if the Spurs decide to build something else or stay here," East Side resident Brandon Johnson said. “What I would like to see (sic) more investment within the community from the Spurs or our local elected officials, from local businesses, and we can focus on the people.”
“People on the East Side have to drive several miles just to go to a job. And they’re working in someone else’s district, you know," East Side resident Jackie Rit said. “So, they’re working, and they’re purchasing from other districts. But you understand, nobody’s supplying and bringing anything back to the East Side.”
Each person had a minute, or occasionally additional time, to share their ideas on preserving their neighborhood as a vibrant part of San Antonio.
"I grew up on Houston Street. And when they built the Spurs arena, they made promises to the East community they didn’t keep," Dr. Eva Mason said. "I don’t like what I see on the East Side as far as the gentrification, and I don’t like the way the houses look that they’re building."
Multiple people spoke into the mic, sharing their ideas for the future of the Frost Bank Center.
Some ideas from residents revolved around expanding the Willow Creek Golf Course, using the land to mitigate potential flooding in the East Side, and hosting educational events for the Rodeo year-round.
“Maybe like shelter to put everybody on the streets, off of the streets, especially those with mental illness,” resident Molly Wright said.
Another resident, Lawrence Romo, vice president of Veterans for LULAC and former director of the Selective Service System, said he would like to see a Bexar County Military museum.
The future of the Frost Bank Center is unclear if the Spurs move downtown. The team’s lease on the county-owned facility lasts into 2032, but a timeline included in an initial city presentation estimated the Hemisfair arena’s construction finishing in 2028.
While this marked the last town hall meeting on the calendar for this issue, Calvert said he plans to host another meeting in the future.
