43% Say No to New Spurs Arena, Only 28% Say Yes With 29% Undecided Still on the Fence
As San Antonio heads toward a November 2025 election next month with Proposition A (redevelopment of the current Eastside arena site) and Proposition B (funding for a new Spurs arena downtown), community voices are making themselves heard.
A few weeks back, The San Antonio Observer launched this community survey to better understand how residents, especially those on the Eastside, feel about Project Marvel. As the city heads toward a pivotal November election, our editorial team felt it was essential to gather direct community input on issues that will shape San Antonio’s future.
The survey asked residents to weigh in on:
- On a scale to 1-5, support or opposition to a new Spurs arena.
- Who should pay for it — taxpayers or Spurs ownership?
- Have the City and County been transparent handling the deal?
- The concerns people have.
- The benefits they hope to see from the project.
This initiative reflects the Observer’s commitment to amplifying community voices on matters of public spending, transparency, and long-term development. By gathering and publishing these results, we aim to provide voters with clear insight into how their neighbors feel before heading to the ballot box in November.
Community Support for the New Arena (1-5 Scale)
On a scale from 1 to 5, residents were asked how much they support a new Spurs arena, with 1 meaning ‘strongly oppose’ and 5 meaning ‘strongly support. All numbers below are scaled to represent 100 residents for clarity.
- 31 out of 100 strongly oppose a new Spurs Arena.
- 12 out of 100 lean opposed.
- 29 out of 100 are neutral.
- 8 out of 100 lean supportive.
- 20 out of 100 strongly support a new Spurs Arena..
43% are not in support of the new arena which outweighs those in support at 28%. 29% are neutral residents and remain undecided about a new arena, a key swing group in the November vote.
Benefits & Concerns About The Project
Main concern: Many fear the project will place the weight of costs (congestion, taxes, and displacement) on the community while providing minimal benefits in return.
Nearly half of respondents worried about traffic and infrastructure strain (48%), while another 46% flagged gentrification and displacement and 46% pointed to higher taxes. A further 44% highlighted lack of transparency, and 23% raised environmental impacts.
Main Benefit: While half saw economic development and job creation as a plus, the other half see no clear benefits at all, reflecting skepticism about whether the arena will help ordinary residents.
When asked about possible upsides, 42% cited economic growth and 38% pointed to job creation as potential benefits. Smaller groups mentioned youth opportunities (21%), housing improvements (17%), or public safety (13%). Yet, 44% said they see no benefits at all, showing deep skepticism about whether the arena will deliver for ordinary San Antonians.
Who Should Pay? 8 in 10 Residents Say ‘NO’ To Public Funds
When it comes to funding, nearly eight in ten residents, 78%, say taxpayers should NOT be on the hook for Project Marvel, while only 10% support using public money and 12% remain unsure.
71% of surveyors believe the Spurs should fully fund the new arena themselves, with just over one in five, 22%, saying the team shouldn’t be 100% responsible.
Transparency & Trust
Survey responses on transparency reveal concerns about a lack of clarity from both the City and County regarding Project Marvel.
About 61% of residents say the City has not been transparent about the project, while 53% say the same about Bexar County. Fewer than one in five respondents, 18%, feel either government has been clear.
Residents Voices: “The Taxes Cited Are An Example Of Corporations Writing Legislation”
Beyond the numbers, the “Have A Say SA” survey invited residents to share their thoughts in their own words:
“Originally, the inference was San Antonians would not be economically impacted. To be clear, a revenue tax will impact citizens through higher car rentals, hotel accommodations, and other entertainment activity. So, if the Spurs want another venue, after the Alamodome and Frost Bank Center (aka AT&T Center) failures and broken promises, let them fund it themselves!!!”
“I fully believe that this project should and needs to happen. It will be so beneficial for the city. I believe the city, county and Spurs have all been extremely transparent about the entire project. I really hope this project happens.”
“I stand with the mayor for transparency.”
“People should be more educated on what this opportunity brings our city and we keep the Spurs.”
“As a county our voice isn’t being heard because our county commissioner has been left out of some of these meetings. As a city the people aren’t being heard because these meetings are occurring during the day when the majority of constituents are at work.”
“Why can’t we do an independent review?”
“Needs to happen but need to look at financial economics first.”
“San Antonio has bigger priorities and responsibilities to take care of their people and finish ongoing construction projects”
“The fact that the Spurs are contributing almost 1 billion is amazing..”
“A stadium and related infrastructure is terrible use of prime urban area. It is used only a small portion of time by a very select portion of the population…”
“It is my opinion that the preponderance of “benefits” (in the form of huge sums of money) from this project will go to the pockets and bank accounts of the “Fat Cats” and “Big Boys” involved with (the planning and fulfillment of) “Project Marvel.”
“The spurs promised the east side everything there promising now. There liars did nothing for our community.”
“The taxes cited are an example of corporations writing legislation.”
Together, these responses reflect a wide spectrum of opinion from frustration over broken promises and concerns about hidden costs, to optimism about economic potential and the Spurs’ long-term role in San Antonio. Taken as a whole, they show how residents are weighing Project Marvel through very different lenses of trust, priorities, and expectations.
Upcoming Vote
Turnout in Bexar County elections with only propositions is often far lower than in general contests. That means even a small group of voters, like those reflected in this survey, can shape the result.
The findings show opposition outweighs support. Most believe the Spurs should pay for the arena themselves, and many question transparency from city and county leaders. Concerns about traffic, displacement, and costs dominate.
As November approaches, San Antonio faces a central tension: residents want investment and opportunity but remain cautious about broken promises and how public resources are spent.
