There’s a lot to like about the vision behind Project Marvel. Bringing the Spurs downtown, anchoring a vibrant entertainment district, finally delivering on the promise of walkable urban life…it’s a compelling idea. But here’s the problem: we may not have the political will to make it happen.
That’s not a judgment on whether the project is good or bad. It’s simply an assessment of risk. The recent mayoral election was a litmus test. Of all the candidates, the two that advanced to the runoff, Gina Ortiz Jones and Rolando Pablos, were outsiders. Jones, now our new mayor, was arguably the most vocal opponent of Project Marvel. That says something.
Polls back it up. A recent UTSA survey from April showed only 34 percent support for Marvel, with 44 percent opposed. The enthusiasm just isn’t there. If this gets pushed to a ballot too early, we risk a no, and if that happens, we don’t just lose the project, we risk losing the Spurs.
That’s a scenario we can’t afford.
San Antonio has a history of big swings, and of falling just short. The Alamodome was built with dreams of landing an NFL team. It never happened. And while it’s hosted some big events, it’s largely underutilized and hasn’t sparked the East Side revitalization we hoped for. Then came the Frost Bank Center, promising economic development on the far East Side. We got the arena, but not much else.
Now we’re trying to course correct, and we should. The Spurs belong downtown. The idea of them playing in the heart of the city, drawing energy into St. Paul Square and connecting the dots between our urban assets, is a vision worth fighting for. It’s a good vision, but it needs to be able to win.
Which brings us to the Alamodome.
We already have a massive venue right next to downtown. It already has parking. It’s adjacent to St. Paul Square, an entertainment district that’s gaining momentum. It’s slated for upgrades anyway to remain competitive for events like the Final Four. I’m no structural engineer or stadium designer, but why not go further and retrofit it to also accommodate the Spurs?
Could it be made more intimate for basketball? Could it be reimagined as a flexible, dual purpose venue? Possibly, and likely for a fraction of Project Marvel’s $4 billion price tag.
More importantly, I think the public might actually get behind it.
Retrofitting the Alamodome avoids the all or nothing gamble of a new megaproject. It acknowledges our past without repeating its mistakes. It brings the Spurs downtown. It energizes St. Paul Square. It keeps Hemisfair free to grow as a true urban neighborhood. And it turns a symbol of unfulfilled ambition into one of creative redemption.
This wouldn’t just be a practical move, it would be a deeply San Antonio move. We’re a city that values resourcefulness, authenticity, and doing things our own way. The Alamodome may not have fulfilled its original promise of bringing in an NFL team, but maybe we don’t want one anymore.
Let’s not play a losing game. Let’s set ourselves up for a win. Retrofitting the Alamodome could be that win, one rooted in who we are and what we’re ready to become.
THE VOICE:
David Morin
David is a Partner with MNO Partners, a real estate development firm focused on developing walkable and community-oriented projects throughout the San Antonio-Austin corridor. David is also the founder and (again) owner of Mission Kayak, San Antonio’s first kayak rental company on the San Antonio riverwalk. David also serves on the City of San Antonio Housing Commission’s Breaking Barriers to Affordable Housing Subcommittee and is the Co-Chair for the Urban Land Institute’s Neighborhood Development Local Member Council. In his spare time, David loves to walk through and explore San Antonio, envision its future, and hang out with his wife and two kids (both under two). David and his family are active parishioners of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and live in a historic neighborhood near downtown San Antonio.