SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio rodeo officials gave a ‘Round Up’ of what a possible expansion of the Freeman Coliseum grounds would look like.
The plan would turn the land into an entertainment district, similar to the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Citizens and residents of the east side heard directly from rodeo officials about what the nearly $200 million expansion would look like — many of them asking questions about who’s footing the bill.
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo CEO Cody Davenport lead the presentation, explaining that visitor taxes would cover the cost of the expansion.
He also shared what the project’s impact could have on San Antonio:
In one weekend, the NCAA Final Four brings in roughly $400 million. Expanding the rodeo ground’s facility’s could bring in an additional $385 million a year, not including the $330 million that comes in during the rodeo in February.
With new facilities come new jobs. People who showed up at the meeting made it clear they want to see those jobs filled with local workers.
“People need to pay their bills,” one woman said. “That’s why we have so much homeless and whatever because people can’t pay.”
“We would want locals involved in this,” Davenport said firmly. “One thing — I want to work with people I know in the area. So, I want locals inside of this thing too. I don’t wanna go to big contractors from out of state and stuff like that if i have control over that.”
Citizens also asked whether or not Proposition A, which calls for voters to approve an increase to visitor taxes, needs Proposition B — which will allow for a new Spurs arena.
Davenport said the two are independent from each other.
This is not the last town hall to discuss Propositions A and B. Davenport said there will be another one led by the county on Oct. 1. It will happen on the coliseum grounds as well.