AT A GLANCE
- Bexar County Commissioners approved Agenda Item No. 68 last Tuesday.
- The Spurs wanted permission to play four home games away from Frost Bank Center.
- Current lease allowed three games outside San Antonio, after vote it allows 4 games.
- No location has been identified for the additional game.
- The discussion comes months after voters approved funding for a new downtown Spurs arena.
Update:
Bexar County Commissioners Court voted 4-0, with Commissioner Tommy Calvert abstaining, on July 7 to approve the lease amendment allowing the Spurs to play up to four regular-season home games away from Frost Bank Center during each of the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. The neutral-site games are expected to include Austin and international locations as the franchise continues expanding its global reach.
Tax Revenue Loss
While no public agency has released an estimate of the tax revenue generated by a single Spurs home game, each game played outside San Antonio means the city and surrounding businesses miss out on spending at restaurants, hotels, parking facilities, retail stores and other businesses that typically benefit from game-day crowds. The vote came just months after Bexar County voters approved public funding for a new downtown Spurs arena intended to keep the franchise in San Antonio for decades.
(July 7, 2026) — Spurs Seek Approval to Play More Home Games Away From San Antonio After New Arena Vote
The request comes months after voters approved public funding for a new downtown Spurs arena, raising new questions about where future “home” games could be played.
Related: Project Marvel Update: What’s Moving Forward and What’s Not
Just months after Bexar County voters approved public funding for a new downtown Spurs arena, Bexar County Commissioners Court is expected to consider a request Tuesday that would allow the San Antonio Spurs to play more regular-season home games away from San Antonio.
The proposal is listed as Agenda Item No. 68 on Tuesday’s Commissioners Court agenda and is expected to be discussed later this afternoon because of its placement on the docket.
If approved, the amendment would modify the Spurs’ lease at Frost Bank Center, allowing the franchise to play up to four home games away from its home arena instead of the current maximum of three.
Under the existing lease, the Spurs are permitted to play two “home” games in Austin during the annual Rodeo Road Trip and one international home game. The amendment would authorize one additional home game outside Frost Bank Center.
The agenda item does not identify where that additional game would be played.
The Spurs are already scheduled to play two regular-season games against the New Orleans Pelicans in France in January 2027 as part of the NBA’s international series.
Why This Matters
The timing of the request is significant. Last November, Bexar County voters approved funding for a new downtown Spurs arena as part of the larger Project Marvel development. The public investment was presented as a long-term commitment to keeping the franchise in San Antonio while creating a new entertainment district expected to serve residents and visitors for decades.
The proposed downtown arena would extend the Spurs’ non-relocation agreement through 2062, but the facility remains several years away from opening.
Meanwhile, the current Frost Bank Center remains one of the newer arenas in the NBA. Depending on how new arenas are counted across the league, it is generally considered among the dozen newest NBA venues, making Tuesday’s request likely to generate discussion among residents who recently voted to support another arena.
For some residents, the proposal raises broader questions about the future of Spurs home games and what fans should expect after approving public funding for a new arena.
No Explanation Included
The lease amendment does not include an explanation for why the Spurs are requesting the additional home game outside San Antonio.
Commissioners are expected to discuss the request before taking action later today.
The San Antonio Observer will update this story with comments from county officials, the Spurs and the outcome of any vote once Agenda Item No. 68 is considered.
