Big spending by San Antonio pro-arena PAC shows Spurs are nervous, expert says

A “Vote Yes” on Project Marvel sign, paid for by San Antonio Spurs LLC, sits in a yard north of downtown. Credit: Michael Karlis

Polling suggests the upcoming election on public funding for a new Spurs arena will be tight — despite the NBA franchise and its backers pumping millions into efforts to win voter support.

The Win Together PAC has spent more than $7 million to convince Bexar County residents to vote for Proposition B, which would raise the county’s visitor tax to 2% to help pay for a new basketball arena at Hemisfair, campaign finance reports show.

The PAC spent $5 million of that sum in the past 30 days, according to its most recent filing, released Monday.

UT-San Antonio Professor of Public Policy Jon Taylor told the Current the sudden rush of cash into the pro-arena PAC may have stemmed from a poll conducted earlier this month by UT-San Antonio’s Center for Public Opinion Research. That survey found that 46% of likely Bexar County voters were against Prop. B, while 40% back the measure.

“My gut feeling is that they got spooked by the numbers that were out there, including probably their own internal polling,” Taylor said. “They’re worried about the potential of losing this thing.”

Early voting data showing significant activity on the fiscally conservative North Side could spell further trouble for the pro-arena campaign, the professor added.

Meanwhile, the Defending Public Money for Public Good PAC, created by community activist group COPS/Metro Alliance, has spent $220,000 on its campaign against Prop B, the latest financial filings show.

Despite the stark contrast in spending, sources familiar with the matter, including former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, told the Current this week that the race is “neck-and-neck.”

The Win Together campaign has mostly focused on flashy events headlined by local celebrities and business leaders to get its messaging out. To point, the Spurs are hosting a final pre-election rally at the Pearl Tuesday night with food, drinks, live music and free trolley rides to the polls.

Local celebrity chefs Johnny Hernandez and Jason Dady as well as Centro CEO Trish DeBerry are expected to attend.

Meanwhile, COPS/Metro has focused primarily on a grassroots campaign, including knocking on doors and phone banking.

Early voting runs through Oct. 31. Polls will reopen between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 4. More information about where and when to vote is available at the Bexar County Elections Department’s website.

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Big spending by San Antonio pro-arena PAC shows Spurs are nervous, expert says

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