MASTERCLASS: THE SPURS REBUILD

[Rustyman]

Double post

[G R E Y]

Sorry, did not see this thread before starting mine. Great historical background from you.

Can you fold the two threads together as I think we cover the same stuff and hopefully will get more feedback.

No worries whatsoever. I love your thread and think both can stand on their own. I think from now on I'll focus far less on the on court and more on the off court developments (it's all part of the overall planning of team improvements) and your thread can be more for various aspects of the on court developments.

I just had some final thoughts about the roster more broadly about who may be in or out and about our overall bulk/toughness.

Thanks!

[G R E Y]

Focusing now on the non-roster masterclass rebuild, the new arena, after the state-of-the-art practice facility, is a big future-proof, multi-faceted project designed to solidify us as a team to be reckoned with, as a team that the city stands behind, as a team that fortifies its place in San Antonio and helps its transformation forward.

There have been some legal and political hurdles (still pending), but here are some insights into how things are progressing and how extensive the project is:

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(I'm glad I visited the Institute of Texan Cultures this spring at this site before it moves).

This is huge.

Details coming soon:

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[Rustyman]

Absolutely necessary if San Antonio wants to keep the Spurs. Especially if Wemby has a 12-15 year career here. We all know that some bored billionaire will eventually target a team to move to his favorite town and we need to ensure that the focus is not on the Spurs but some other poor shmuck. I still remember how the original Grizzlies and Sonics were stolen from their hometowns.

[G R E Y]

Though there are still many, and big, issues to resolve:

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[G R E Y]

There are BIG steps forward in new arena news!

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The City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and San Antonio Spurs have taken a significant first step toward establishing a new downtown Sports and Entertainment District, relocating the San Antonio Spurs to a downtown arena, and reimagining the area around the Frost Bank Center. On Friday, the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and San Antonio Spurs signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), showing their desire to work collaboratively to plan and accomplish these goals.

The Sports and Entertainment District will combine sports, entertainment, dining, shopping, and residential uses to attract locals and tourists, boost the economy, and create a common space that is accessible to the entire community. The District will include an expansion of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, a new Convention Center Hotel, a land bridge over I-37 to connect the East Side to downtown, improvements to the Alamodome, renovation of the John Wood Courthouse into a live entertainment venue, mixed-use development, enhanced infrastructure, and a new Spurs arena.

“I am happy that we have worked together to finalize this MOU. We are looking forward to a potential November venue tax election to allow voters to voice their opinion on the new Spurs arena, which is the only component of Project Marvel involving Bexar County,” Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai said. “The venue tax will also be critical for us to deliver on my pledge to redevelop the East Side and use some of those funds to pay for much-needed improvements and upgrades to the Frost Bank Center, Freeman Coliseum and the surrounding area.”

https://www.sa.gov/Directory/News-Releases/Downtown-Sports-and-Entertainment-District-Tips-Off-with-Signed-MOU

[G R E Y]

RC's statement:

The San Antonio Spurs today issued the following statement as a reaction to the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and San Antonio Spurs signing a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), showing their desire to work collaboratively toward establishing a new downtown Sports and Entertainment District, relocating the San Antonio Spurs to a downtown arena and reimagining the area around the Frost Bank Center.

RC Buford, San Antonio Spurs Chief Executive Officer

“We appreciate the partnership between the City and County as we take steps together in exploring a future downtown Spurs arena. This is an exciting project that we believe presents the opportunity to energize our economy, strengthen our community and position San Antonio for long-term success.

This process allows us to purposefully evaluate how an arena in the heart of a thriving entertainment district can drive new economic opportunities, local business growth and increased tourism revenue, all of which benefit our entire region.

As we move forward, we will continue working closely with local leaders, businesses and the community to explore the best path to responsibly fund and develop a venue that serves all of San Antonio. We are thrilled about the possibilities ahead and look forward to engaging our community in shaping this vision.”

https://www.nba.com/spurs/news/spurs-share-statement-in-response-to-downtown-sports-and-entertainment-district-signed-memorandum-of-understanding

[G R E Y]

The vote will be crucial but on the off chance citizens vote against it, this has a too big to fail feel to it.

Making the Spurs new arena part of a much larger building project is clever and protects the team and the mission. Isolated, the new arena initiative would be weaker. There are always other areas that funds could go to. But a huge reimagining of the downtown core, new Spurs arena included, affects so many facets and so many people, and is so future-proof that this huge entity has enough energy to roll into existence in its new space.

This will be epic.

[G R E Y]

SA real estate agent and response. Both good points:

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And following further, other responses touch upon downtown congestion and transportation, two points I'd like to briefly discuss just as a visitor and a fan.

Going to Spurs games has been a dream but getting to and leaving them, a necessary hassle. The current arena location gets all the cars and some buses coming almost all at once. Credit to staff for how organized everything is. I would say even more so than, for example, coming in via public transportation to see Spurs in Toronto.

So in terms of congestion, as a fan, I accept the throngs of people and patience required. But you want something for the effort, as in options to go after the game, and maybe before. Coming and going is fluid if understandably slowed, but once outside, it clears fairly quickly because it's so well organized, and so I've had several moments of being out at night in a huge nearly empty parking lot waiting for a taxi (because so many others were, too). I was checked in on often by security, but then they had to leave as well. So at times it didn't feel the safest. Not because anything ever happened, but because I am warned every time I visit SA not to be walking alone at night. And so I felt too vulnerable. Maybe it's different for men, I don't know. Surely it's different for groups of people. But think about how different the experience is and can be when an arena is tied to multi-use entertainment and tied to various transportation options.

Leaving a game in TO, for example, or even New York, you get the public transportation without having to go outside, and in inclement weather, and for safety, these are important.

In terms of keeping things organized, other arena staff can learn a thing or two from Spurs staff. Everyone was actively helpful, always polite. I don't know if it's just a Southern thing, but don't ever lose it. I've had to chase staff down in TO., and even in Austin, already getting a bit of a big city vibe at times.

Anyway, staff is one aspect. Another is adequate space allotment. Yes it's easier to get to the TO arena, but there are spots where too many people go through too small a space when people come in from the trains. I think I may have touched on this before, but every time I experience it I think who designed and approved this cattle corral?!

And finally of course, public transportation. Trains, buses, taxis, - are subways an option? I think not - is crucial for congestion increase or decrease, for city growth and movement and flow, and for proper placement and use of space. Walkability is also huge.

So I agree about how important Project Marvel is for city profit but also for a reimagined, redesigned, future-proof, infrastructure that suits people in the city and those coming to visit.

I can't wait to see how this project develops.

[G R E Y]

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[G R E Y]

YES!!!

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WOOHOO!

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[G R E Y]

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Sustained success from sustainable management on and off the court.

[G R E Y]

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