At the September 17 luncheon of the Rotary Club of San Antonio, Rotarians welcomed Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager for the City of San Antonio, who shared her perspective on Project Marvel—a transformative plan to reimagine Hemisfair and create a world-class sports and entertainment district in the heart of downtown.
Lori, a 24-year veteran of city service and a driving force behind major projects such as the San Antonio Riverwalk extension and the Alamo master plan, surprised attendees by announcing her retirement effective September 26. While she plans to devote more time to family and community service in the near term, she assured Rotarians that she will remain deeply engaged in San Antonio’s future.
What Is Project Marvel?
Although the name began as an internal code word, Project Marvel represents a bold vision: anchoring Hemisfair with a new Spurs arena while expanding and enhancing public assets that benefit all San Antonians. Highlights include:
- New Spurs Arena – A downtown home designed to be accessible for everyone, with Civic Park and public watch parties creating energy beyond ticketed games.
- Expanded Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center – Adding exhibit space to attract multiple large conventions simultaneously and keep San Antonio competitive with peer cities.
- Upgrades to the Alamodome – Ensuring the city remains a premier host for Final Fours, Alamo Bowls, and major concerts.
- New Convention Hotel – Privately funded, to meet demand from expanded convention activity.
- Conversion of the John H. Wood Courthouse – Into a 4,000–6,000 seat music venue, filling a long-missing niche in San Antonio’s event landscape.
- Eastside Connector and Land Bridge – Reconnecting neighborhoods divided by interstate highways.
Funding and Community Impact
Houston emphasized that residential property taxes will not increase to fund these projects. Instead, the financing plan draws from a mix of hotel occupancy taxes (paid by visitors), state tax rebates, private development guarantees, and a $500 million direct investment by the Spurs organization.
The Spurs have also committed to $1.4 billion in adjacent development by 2032, ensuring steady tax revenue to cover debt and reduce risk to the city.
Houston underscored that this initiative is “not about tourists, it’s about San Antonians.” By creating public gathering spaces and accessible experiences, Project Marvel aims to strengthen community pride while generating the economic impact needed to keep San Antonio thriving as a major event destination.
A Legacy of Service
In reflecting on her career, Houston credited mentors and colleagues who entrusted her with big projects early on, and she expressed gratitude for the chance to shape the city she loves. She closed by urging Rotarians to see Project Marvel as an investment in San Antonio’s future—a project that, like the Spurs themselves, can unite the community.
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
