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The San Antonio city council voted 6-5 on Monday to reject a proposal to hold a public vote on the city's planned $489 million contribution for a new Spurs downtown arena. The move means a public vote on the city's contribution won't be included on the Nov. 3 midterm ballot. "Today's decision allows San Antonio to move forward on a path that was established through years of work, public discussion, city and county action and last year's vote," Spurs CEO R.C. Buford said in a statement. "We can now turn our full attention to delivering on that shared vision and the transformational opportunity ahead for our city."
Bexar County, where San Antonio is located, voted last November to approve $311 million in county venue tax dollars for the team's new arena in what was known as Proposition B. The proposal received 52.1% of the vote and authorized Bexar County venue taxes -- fees on hotels occupancy, and short-term car rental taxes -- to be increased. The rest of the public funding, $489 million, for the proposed $1.3 billion arena would come from the city of San Antonio.
The Spurs are committed to contributing at least $500 million to construction of the arena, including all overruns. "We are grateful to the community, business and civic leaders, Spurs fans and residents who have taken the time to learn the facts and make their voices heard," Buford said. "There is still a great deal of work ahead, and we are ready for it. We remain committed to working alongside our public and community partners to deliver a downtown arena and district that strengthens San Antonio for generations to come."
Spurs CEO RC Buford issued a carefully worded statement after the schedule release. “San Antonio is home, and we’re looking forward to bringing our community together while reaching audiences in Austin, Paris and Manchester,” the statement read. “We’re excited for what this season will bring to our fans and proud to represent San Antonio and share the spirit, culture and community that make our city special everywhere the Spurs take the court.”
While the Spurs continue to grow their fanbase along the I-35 corridor, they’re also trying to fund a massive arena complex set in San Antonio’s aging downtown. It’s been a delicate dance as the Spurs reaffirm their commitment to San Antonio while also growing their reach throughout Texas and abroad. Spurs CEO RC Buford issued a carefully worded statement after the schedule release. “San Antonio is home, and we’re looking forward to bringing our community together while reaching audiences in Austin, Paris and Manchester,” the statement read. “We’re excited for what this season will bring to our fans and proud to represent San Antonio and share the spirit, culture and community that make our city special everywhere the Spurs take the court.”
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Days after Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones called for a public vote on the city’s contribution to a $1.3 billion NBA arena, the Spurs put out a letter saying that’s not necessary. The open letter from Spurs Sports & Entertainment CEO R.C. Buford doesn’t mention Jones by name, but it is clearly directed at her — and any City Council member who’s on board with her proposal. “The vote has taken place. The commitments have been made. The work is underway,” the letter states. Bexar County voters “made their voices heard” when 52% approved the county’s $311 million contribution to the project last November, Buford said in the letter, which SS&E released Tuesday.
Buford’s letter says the contribution “comes from visitor-based revenue” and “is legally restricted to venues and tourism-related projects.” But that applies only to the state’s portion of hotel taxes. That revenue can be spent only on projects that support tourism. Buford defended the draft financing plan, which city officials are working to make final by the end of the year. “This is a responsible public-private partnership built around clear commitments,” Buford wrote.
"They want to grow," Spurs CEO R.C. Buford said last week when he revealed on the YouTube show TRASH TALK that "eight or ten" players were expected to join Wembanyama in France for workouts. Buford said Wembanyama organizing the practices underscores his leadership skills. "Just seeing Victor calling his team and saying, 'Hey, come over here and spend a week with me' (shows his leadership)," Buford said.
Gregg Popovich is moving in a positive direction as he continues to recover from his health issues. San Antonio Spurs CEO RC Buford provided the uplifting update on the basketball legend in his recent appearance on Trashtalk. “He continues to rehab with more purpose and diligence than I think any of us could have imagined," Buford revealed when asked about Popovich's current health status. "He’s improving, and his presence is always there to support the team.”
Victor Wembanyama will bring several San Antonio Spurs teammates and coaches together in France ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season Spurs CEO R.C. Buford revealed that a group of around eight to ten people will travel to Paris next week to spend time and work with the French star before training camp. “Our coaches and players are going to be here together next week, doing some work in Paris,” Buford said during an appearance on TrashTalk. “They’re coming over to see Victor, about eight or ten of them.”
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The Spurs' goal last season was to return to the playoffs. You ultimately reached the NBA Finals (losing 4-1 to the New York Knicks) . Looking back, what are you most proud of? RC Buford: From the leadership of the general manager ( Brian Wright ) and the coach ( Mitch Johnson ) , to the way the players managed to gel as a team. They took more joy in each other's successes than any team I've ever seen. Our style of play, our ball movement, and the genuine emotion we saw on the court after winning the Conference Finals against Oklahoma City (4-3)—it was all authentic. And that's very rare in elite sports.
The Spurs will return to Europe next January, with two regular season games relocated to Paris on the 14th, and then to Manchester, England, on the 17th, against the New Orleans Pelicans. Was this a request from you, or a decision made by the NBA? RC Buford: We are an international program and have always been committed to growing and getting closer to our fans around the world. Playing in Paris again obviously means something to Victor, but we didn't request it. I think the League recognized the impact he had when he played in Paris during the 2024 Olympics and then at the Paris Games in January 2025. The French market is different from the US market, but we have been incredibly well served so far, both by our fans and our commercial partners. And we'll be back in Paris at the end of the month to meet people there and inaugurate a new basketball court
Maxime Aubin: Are the Spurs pursuing LeBron James? I asked RC Buford about it. Here’s his answer: “What I will say is that we’re excited about the team we’ve been able to keep together — and to add Tobias [Harris] to that, plus our young draft picks. I think our history shows how we build teams.” Full one-on-one interview with the Spurs CEO tomorrow in @lequipe
Shams Charania: Spurs chairman Peter J. Holt, CEO RC Buford, GM Brian Wright and coach Mitch Johnson traveled to Paris to meet and spend time with Victor Wembanyama and his family and reps Friday. Wembanyama was essentially a lock to earn a $303M supermax if he played 65 games next season -- but he opted for a significant sacrifice at a flash point for the Spurs' rise. In the Spurs championship past, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker had a history of taking less for the betterment of team-building.