So an
Express-News story came out recently that the San Antonio Spurs parent group (SS&E) had been in discussions to take over and manage Alamo Stadium, the historic 23,000 seat stadium near downtown (for the obvious intention of bringing a Major League Soccer team).
SAISD would continue to use the stadium under the agreement.
This has potentially big implications...
1. The addition of 20-30 major attendence dates (between soccer and concerts) to the Alamo Stadium calendar would continue to enliven the area.
2. The strategic renovation and reclamation of the urban stadium will undergird the River North/inner-city revitilization efforts and show the urban core to be stronger than ever.
3. The close proximity of Alamo Stadium to improved transportation systems (3/4 mile from Witte Station on Streetcar line) may help provide a boost to those systems.
4. Major League Soccer has proven to be an urban success story in America, with huge successes in Seattle, Toronto, DC and (soon) Portland, Vancouver, Philadelphia and New York (who are all opening urban or semi-urban rail-accessible stadia).
There is a group of soccer "supporters" already assembled in San Antonio (I dabble) and they are working towards building support for a team that would, for the benefits of this forum, hopefully do as much for those who love urbanity as it would for those who love soccer. Check 'em out:
http://www.crocketteers.com/