- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
San Antonio Council Rejects Mayor's Proposal for Spurs to Pay Stadium Costs
Councilmembers criticize plan to ask basketball team to contribute to arena upkeep.
Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:05pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Members of the San Antonio City Council have strongly pushed back against a proposal from Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones to ask the city's NBA team, the Spurs, to contribute financially towards the upkeep and maintenance of the AT&T Center arena. Councilors argued the plan was unfair and would set a problematic precedent.
Why it matters
The debate over the Spurs' financial obligations for their home arena highlights the ongoing tensions between professional sports teams and local governments over stadium funding. As cities face budget pressures, there are growing calls for teams to pay more towards the costs of the facilities they use.
The details
Mayor Ortiz Jones had suggested the city should explore asking the Spurs to help cover a portion of the AT&T Center's annual operating and maintenance costs, which total around $17 million. However, several councilmembers strongly rejected the idea, arguing it would be an unfair burden on the team and set a precedent that could impact other local businesses.
- The proposal was discussed at a City Council meeting on March 30, 2026.
- The AT&T Center has been the Spurs' home arena since 2002.
The players
Gina Ortiz Jones
The mayor of San Antonio who proposed asking the Spurs to contribute to arena costs.
San Antonio City Council
The local governing body that rejected the mayor's proposal to have the Spurs pay for the AT&T Center.
San Antonio Spurs
The NBA team that plays its home games at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.
What they’re saying
“We can't just start picking on the Spurs. That's not fair to them or any other business in this city.”
— Councilmember Roberto Treviño
“I don't think we should be asking the Spurs to pay for the upkeep of the arena. That's our responsibility as a city.”
— Councilmember Adriana Rocha Garcia
What’s next
The City Council is expected to further discuss arena funding options at its next meeting in April.
The takeaway
This debate highlights the ongoing challenges cities face in balancing the needs of professional sports teams with the interests of taxpayers. As budgets tighten, there will likely be more scrutiny over the financial arrangements between municipalities and the teams that play in their arenas.
