Spurs Sports and Entertainment Chairman Peter J. Holt holds the No. 1 lottery pick for the 2023 NBA Draft. Credit: Instagram / Spurs

Spurs Sports & Entertainment Chairman Peter J. Holt got mixed reactions online after using the team’s Sunday home opener against the Brooklyn Nets to lobby the crowd to vote for a publicly financed basketball arena. 

Before the game got underway, Holt addressed the sellout audience at the Frost Bank Arena to talk up a pair of controversial ballot initiatives that would lay the groundwork for the new facility. 

“We got a great opportunity on the court, but a big one off the court. We have an opportunity to build a new arena downtown,” Holt said.

“This new arena will not only help the Spurs but make San Antonio more amazing than it already is. It will expand the rodeo. And, the best part, it’s paid by the Spurs and visitors. No impact on any of y’all. So please, please go vote yes for props A and B. this week.”

As could be expected, a clip of Holt’s speech ended up on social media platform X thanks to user @DominguezCinco. 

Bexar County voters are currently casting ballots on propositions A and B, which would raise the county’s visitor tax to 2% to help pay for a new Spurs arena at Hemisfair. The proposed venue also would be financed by property and sales taxes generated by surrounding development. 

In keeping with recent polling results, online reactions to Holt’s comments were a mixed bag.

“Holt panhandling for millions of dollars while overcharging for tickets, concessions, and merch is might bold for a billionaire,” @Alamo_On_The_Rise tweeted in response to the clip.

“Current arena is less than 25 years old,” user @NBL2026 agreed. “If it’s outdated, then officials were negligent in approving it in the first place. Time between arenas is getting shorter and shorter, as if taxpayers have endless money. Enough!” 

Holt wasn’t without support, though. 

User @silentnight56 reiterated the so-far unfounded claim that the Spurs will leave San Antonio if the arena vote fails on Nov. 4. 

“That’s [Holt’s] way of saying ‘put-up-or-shut-up,” the user tweeted. “Vote YES or in a matter of a few years they become the Las Vegas Spurs! Better vote YES Spurs fans.”

So far, about 5% of all registered Bexar County voters have cast ballots, which is above average for off-year early voting, according to the Express-News. 

Early voting runs through Oct. 31, then polls reopen from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 4. More information, including polling locations and voting times, are available at the Bexar County Elections Department’s website. 

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