How Hemisfair land parcels could be assembled to form a sports district

For years, piecing together enough land for a ballfield, arena or both in downtown San Antonio has been a puzzle that perhaps now has edges.

Last week’s approval by the University of Texas System Board of Regents to start talks with the City of San Antonio about the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) property could help fill in the missing parts. 

The ITC makes up roughly 13.5 acres in the public-private Hemisfair development, space enough for the city to build a sports arena if the museum weren’t there, according to sporting facility experts. 

But other contiguous parcels in the eastern quadrant of Hemisfair, either unused or undeveloped today, improve the odds that the area could be transformed into a full sports and entertainment destination with an arena at its core.

Other places have done just that — see Los Angeles (Staples Center) and Arlington (Globe Life Field).

“Successful cities across the country are always looking for ways to keep their downtowns vibrant,” said Laura Mayes, a city spokeswoman. The ITC’s location in Hemisfair makes it a desirable place to make some upgrades.

Mayes described several redevelopment projects that purchasing or leasing the ITC property would make possible: expanding the Henry B. González Convention Center, renovating the Alamodome and building a land bridge over Interstate 37 to reconnect Hemisfair to the East Side of San Antonio.

City leaders have met with their counterparts at Bexar County, the San Antonio Spurs leadership and owners of the San Antonio Missions minor league baseball team about a downtown sports district that could fuel an economic resurgence downtown.

Hemisfair officials also have a seat at the table because it could impact master plans for the area, said Andres Andujar, CEO of the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corp. 

“I am very excited about the possibilities of what’s swirling out in midair around the eastern zone of Hemisfair, so I think it has great potential,” Andujar said. “We have been in many, many conversations about this.”

But all parties have signed nondisclosure agreements as they work out the details, he said.

City Manager Erik Walsh said officials have not yet had any “serious” conversations about acquiring the ITC or federal government-owned property in Hemisfair.

“Frankly … our focus right now is the feasibility of the project finance zone legislation and how much revenue there is,” he said.

Here’s a look at the land and ownership in that part of Hemisfar.

After HemisFair ‘68, the Texas Pavilion was turned over to the University of Texas System, with UTSA assuming administrative control of the museum in 1973. Last year, UTSA officials said they were considering a move for the museum, the likely location in a new facility close to the Alamo. 

In January, the Texas Historical Commission ruled that the ITC is eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, an effort opposed by UTSA and spearheaded by the Conservation Society of San Antonio. A listing on the National Register would make redevelopment of the building eligible for historic tax credits. But there are no restrictions on what a future owner can do with the property, including demolition. 

The city is pursuing acquisition of this seven-story building and the vacant lots across the street at 610-611 Indianola St. The Hemisfair master plan slates the entire 7.5 acres as a mixed-use development, Mayes stated.

The aging rotunda was designed by Marmon and Mok Associates and Donald Desky for the world’s fair, then housed the U.S. federal courthouse until it was vacated in early 2022 when a new courthouse opened at 262 W. Nueva St. 

The city acquired the old courthouse and the adjacent Adrian A. Spears Judicial Training Center the same year. Mayes said the restoration covenants for that transaction require the exterior of both buildings to be retained.

The park police have moved to a new building at Hemisfair, leaving its old headquarters vacant. The century-old Kusch House will soon have new occupants — Kusch Faire, a sister restaurant to Dashi Sichuan Kitchen & Bar and Sichuan House.

The 750-foot-tall Tower of the Americas was designed by renowned architect O’Neil Ford for HemisFair ‘68 and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. At the top is an observation deck and a restaurant, Chart House. 

The area surrounding the Tower of the Americas provides shaded walking paths and water features. 

This parcel is currently used for surface parking.

Reporters Iris Dimmick and Andrea Drusch contributed to this report.