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Bexar County tourist tax looks to fund rodeo expansion, Spurs arena From the cover

The big picture

Coliseum Complex Venue Project Funds will be used to renovate existing east side buildings and construct buildings to create a permanent home for the rodeo.

1 Frost Bank Center 2 Freeman Coliseum 3 New ex building 4 New ex building 5 Modied ex building 6 Modied expo hall 1 7 Modied storage

As Bexar County voters head to the polls Nov. 4, they will decide whether to raise the hotel occupancy tax, or HOT, from 1.75% to 2%. Funds raised from this increased tax, as well as the existing 5% tax on rental cars, will go toward the renovation of the Frost Bank Center, the transformation of the Freeman Coliseum into a permanent home for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and up to 25%, or $311 million, of the cost for a San Antonio Spurs arena downtown. Voters will decide on two propositions, with Proposition A funding the existing county venues and rodeo, while Proposition B funds a portion of the Spurs arena. Jim Leo, director of communications for Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, said the tax is estimated to generate $503 million over a 30-year period. Leo said the most important aspect of the vote is that funds raised through this tax can only be used on venues. Je Webster, CEO of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, said these taxes would not burden the local taxpayer. “[Major] cities do the same thing we’re about to do, [which] is put 99% of the burden on the visitors and tourists that come to the community that utilize the facilities,” Webster said.

Renovated buildings

New buildings

Existing structures

RENDERINGS COURTESY SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW & RODEO

E. HOUSTON ST.

SOURCE: STOCK SHOW & SAN ANTONIO RODEOCOMMUNITY IMPACT

A closer look

Put in perspective

$197.01M total cost for renovation and expansion 18 potential events for year-round activity $44M for Frost Center and Freeman Coliseum improvements San Antonio Rodeo breakdown: 1.5M annual visitors to the fairgrounds $330M annual economic impact from the February 2025 Stock Show & Rodeo $384M additional economic impact not including February rodeo event $750M in annual year-round programming

Cody Davenport, CEO of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, said if both propositions pass, the rodeo can compete with other major rodeo sites, such as Fort Worth. “We’re the gateway to South Texas, and we’re the gateway to Mexico. There is absolutely no reason that we should not have this action right here,” Davenport said. The project will include two new buildings, mod- ied ex stalls and an exposition hall. The modied exposition hall will feature holding pens, a market, a restaurant and a permanent show arena. Davenport emphasized that new facilities would keep a majority of events that leave the area. “[If] we clean this place up to make it more attractive, then I can go out and I can compete, and I can bring these [events] into San Antonio,” Davenport said. If approved by voters, design and planning for the renovation would begin immediately, with construction estimated to take four to ve years.

Rodeo expansion

Three ex buildings: $119M

Expo hall/stall barn upgrades: $35M

Site utilities and upgrades: $14.01M Chilled water central plant: $7.64M Open/lawn landscaping: $7.58M Updated bridges and canopies: $7M Northeast side entrance: $2M Building demo: $1.85M Architecture: $15.3M Food & beverage and retail: $11.57M Mechanical, engineering , plumbing and re protection: $9.87M Technology: $3.59M Freeman Coliseum roof: $4M Structure: $545,830 Frost Bank Center & Freeman Coliseum repairs

$195M for rodeo expansion

SOURCE: SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW & RODEOCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: BEXAR COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM