A Texas city is becoming a billionaires’ playground as it moves forward with a new sports arena that locals are riling against.
A project once known as Project Marvel is encountering significant opposition from local residents who are opposed to the idea of constructing a new San Antonio Spurs arena downtown.
‘We don’t need to provide a $4.5 billion playground for tourists and billionaires that does not benefit our city’s economic development,’ stated Father Jimmy Drennan of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church to the San Antonio Express-News.
Discussions among city officials about building a new Spurs arena have been ongoing for years, taking place behind closed doors and involving consultants and developers who are required to sign nondisclosure agreements.
But locals don’t want their taxpaying money to go toward the new arena, which they say, won’t get any love from those residing there, only tourists and billionaires.
‘This is a business deal with the Spurs and the city. It should also be a business deal for us,’ Patrick Stolmeier, a local, told The Express-News.
Anne Alexander cofounded a campaign called Stop! Project Marvel and several of her organization’s signs – which read: ‘No! Project Marvel’ – have been popping up in plenty of neighborhoods since.
The campaign might become a thorn in politicians’ sides as more and more residents are becoming disdainful about the project.
A project that was initially code-named Project Marvel is facing huge backlash from local residents who have no desire for a new San Antonio Spurs arena to be constructed downtown (pictured: rendering of new arena)
‘We don’t need to provide a $4.5 billion playground for tourists and billionaires that does not provide economic development for our city,’ Father Jimmy Drennan, of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, said
And locals are angered by the lack of transparency and communication and don’t want it to be on the ballot in November.
‘There are too many unanswered questions, including costs, economic benefits, alternatives, and financing,’ Alexander’s campaign said in a statement.
‘Is downtown for the people or just for tourists?’ Alexander’s cofounder, Annalisa Peace, questioned.
They also worry about traffic jams from the all the tourists coming downtown and whether or not locals would even be able to afford tickets to the games, which is currently held at the Frost Bank Center on the East Side.
The average income in San Antonio is $34,000 for an individual and $63,000 for a household.
‘When I tell people: “Would you like to sign in opposition?” they grab it out of my hands to try to sign it,’ Mike Phillips, a COPS/Metro Alliance, an interfaith group that opposes the arena, told the outlet.
Assistant City Manager, Lori Houston, told The Express-News that officials hear the backlash, but said the city has no desire to cancel their plans.
‘I’ve heard people say: “How do I stop this project?” You take a vote,’ she said on Tuesday. ‘But we don’t want to stop this project.’
The Spurs currently play at the Frost Bank Center (pictured) on the East Side. But locals don’t want their taxpaying money to go toward the new arena, which they say, won’t get any love from those residing there, only tourists and billionaires
Locals worry about traffic jams from the all the tourists coming downtown and whether or not locals would even be able to afford tickets to the games
Tourism is a huge moneymaker for the Southern city and adding the arena downtown would help increase foot traffic and help finance the area through taxes on hotels and rental cars.
Officials also worry that if the area isn’t built, the basketball team could look elsewhere and that would lower the city’s profit margin.
And not every resident is viciously opposed to it and Keely Petty told The Express-News that she believes it could put San Antonio on the map next to Houston and Dallas.
The city is also looking to expand the convention center again, which could cost up to $900million and would have to move the San Antonio Water System chilled water plant to do so. How much it would cost to move the water system is unknown.
Daily Mail has reached out to the City of San Antonio for comment.
