Why the Spurs-Backed Downtown District Matters for UTSA's Future

On November 4, there is another significant opportunity to cast a vote. This election cycle includes several measures that are crucial for the future of UT San Antonio, where I serve as president, and our broader community.

While I never encourage anyone to vote in a specific way, I strongly believe in the importance of becoming informed and exercising one's civic duty. However, I feel it is essential to share my perspective on why the sports and entertainment district and Propositions A and B—funding a new Spurs arena downtown and expanding San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo programming year-round—are vital for the future of UT San Antonio and our mission as an anchor institution for the city.

The Importance of the Sports and Entertainment District

San Antonio stands at a pivotal moment in its growth. These initiatives are not just about entertainment; they are about shaping a city that can compete nationally for talent, investment, and opportunity. A vibrant, connected downtown fuels economic vitality, attracts students, employees, and employers, and strengthens the educational ecosystem that is essential to our community.

UT San Antonio is on a rapid upward trajectory, and our success is deeply tied to the strength of the city around us. We educate more than 42,000 students each year and have more than 216,000 living alumni. More than 90% of our graduates stay in the state to build their lives and careers. Together, our academic and health campuses employ more than 17,000 doctors, dentists, nurses, scientists, faculty, staff, and student workers. Along with our valued healthcare partners such as University Health System and the VA, we provide 2.3 million patient visits annually serving our community. We conduct more than $500 million in research and development and are involved in hundreds of clinical trials advancing new therapies and treatments. We have world-renowned institutes and centers that drive discovery and clinical innovation with a total regional economic impact exceeding $7 billion each year. Moreover, we are planning for significant growth over the next decade.

We are one of only 21 universities in the nation recognized both as a Carnegie R1 research university and as a leader in advancing access and economic mobility. These accomplishments demonstrate that UT San Antonio is establishing itself as the kind of anchor institution every great city needs—one that educates, heals, innovates, and drives economic strength.

Investing in Innovation and Community

But to fully realize that mission, we must keep investing in spaces where innovation, learning, and community intersect, especially downtown. Since I arrived here in 2017, UT San Antonio has expanded its footprint throughout our city, but our downtown growth has been especially transformative. We've developed state-of-the-art facilities at San Pedro I and II as extensions of our downtown campus, acquired the Southwest School of Art, the Kallison Block, and One River Walk Place. We are advancing plans for a new Institute of Texan Cultures and a School of Hospitality.

Our new College of AI, Cyber and Computing, together with our School of Data Science and the National Security Collaboration Center, will bring more than 5,000 students, faculty, and staff downtown. We recently launched Texas Cyber Command downtown, a significant cyber security collaborative with the state of Texas, and are already planning for a third new facility, San Pedro III. Altogether, UT San Antonio has invested more than $300 million in downtown over the past few years—commitments that mirror our belief in a thriving, future-focused San Antonio.

These investments also align with our broader effort to strengthen the heart of our city. Through my role on the board and executive committee of greater: SATX, I work alongside community and business leaders focused on retaining and attracting companies that hire our graduates. Corporate recruitment and retention depend on a vibrant downtown that signals San Antonio's readiness to compete on a national stage.

The development efforts at Hemisfair, the new Missions stadium near our Southwest Campus, the revitalization of the Alamo area, and the proposed sports and entertainment district are all part of a decades-long vision to reinvigorate San Antonio's urban core. Each of these projects contributes to a more dynamic, livable city, one that today's students, families, and businesses want to call home.

Lessons from Other Cities

We can look to other cities for examples of success. Places such as greater Boston, where I spent a significant portion of my earlier higher education career, Pittsburgh, and San Diego have shown how strategic public-private collaboration between universities, civic leaders, and businesses can reshape downtowns and accelerate innovation. Boston's rise as a global hub for education, health care, and technology came from decades of deliberate partnership among its universities, local government, and private investors. That same kind of collaboration can, and should, define San Antonio's next chapter.

Our students are looking for more than an education. They are seeking a lifestyle and an experience that connects academic opportunity with the vibrancy of a great city. Universities that are woven into the cultural and economic fabric of their downtowns, especially those with accessible sports, arts, and entertainment, are better positioned to attract and retain top talent. For UT San Antonio, supporting these initiatives means creating that kind of environment for our students and our city alike.

As a major investor in downtown and a proud community partner, we share the aspirations behind these proposals. The initiatives involving the sports and entertainment district and related public investment align with our mission to make lives better across San Antonio.

As I've often said, great cities need great universities, and great universities need great cities. Together, we shape what's possible. I urge everyone, regardless of perspective, to stay informed and exercise your right to vote. The future of San Antonio is ours to build, together.