The San Antonio City Council began an effort Thursday
"that ultimately may result in a public vote on whether to
build a mid-size arena" for the Spurs, according to
Christopher Anderson of the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS. The
move comes after the council "rejected" the team's TIF
proposal for a publicly funded arena on the North East Side
on Tuesday. Council members voted 8-0 "to direct city
staffers to continue talks on constructing a facility with
the Spurs" and "to examine all funding mechanisms -- public,
private or a mix of the two." Spurs VP Leo Gomez "welcomed"
the council's move: "We're pleased the council recognizes a
need for a community arena here in San Antonio. We hope to
continue to be an asset to this community." Gomez added
that Spurs owners "will not rule out selling or moving the
team" if they begin to lose money by continuing to play in
the Alamodome. Gomez "emphasized" that the team wants to
remain in San Antonio and has no plans to leave, but said,
"We have to look at all of our options." S.A. Mayor Howard
Peak, who prefers building an arena near the Alamodome, said
that all sites and financing mechanisms "should be explored"
and the public "should be more involved" than they were with
the TIF proposal (EXPRESS-NEWS, 12/18). Tim Price writes
that Joe Strauss Jr., Chair of Retama Park racetrack, which
is located outside the city on I-35, would be "interested"
in building an arena for the team on the site "if they'd be
interested." Spurs Chair Peter Holt also has ownership
interest in the land at Retama (S.A. EXPRESS-NEWS, 12/18).
