espn ranks spurs arena as last in the nba

[playblair]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41557829/top-nba-arenas-td-garden-intuit-dome-more



the Frost Bank Center has a complicated legacy. It's stationed far from downtown San Antonio, with voters ranking it last in accessibility. Food and concessions were also ranked the lowest



holts plz relocate to austin.........

[CorrectCrusader]

I really don't get the hate other than the location. Seems like every other arena

[Leetonidas]

The ranking seems mostly based on location. Hard to argue that the location sucks ass

[Russ]

The Spurs' arena according to the LA Times, Fall 2002:


"A dark unremarkable barn on the outskirts of nowhere."

[KingKev]

Put a winning team together and it’s fine. I’m a Canadian who has been attending games since gm 1 of the 99 NBA Finals. I’ve been to 10-12 arenas on that list in the last 20 years. From an economic standpoint they never should have left downtown to begin with.

[Russ]

Put a winning team together and it’s fine. I’m a Canadian who has been attending games since gm 1 of the 99 NBA Finals. I’ve been to 10-12 arenas on that list in the last 20 years. From an economic standpoint they never should have left downtown to begin with.

The downtown of SA is its best selling point (unlike many other cities).

The Spurs need desperately to get a state of the art arena in that area as soon as possible.

[The Truth #6]

Sounds like it will be where the Institute of Texan Cultures is/was. But the food will still be basic grub, except for the lower seats. It's not like most SA fans will actually buy sushi or poke bowls or whatever. Better bbq and Tex Mex does make sense, though.

[KingKev]

The downtown of SA is its best selling point (unlike many other cities).

The Spurs need desperately to get a state of the art arena in that area as soon as possible.

I completely agree. I’ll give a prime example as someone who has gone to games at both the Palace of Auburn Hills and recently Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit; what that arena did with regards to the gentrification of Detroit is incredible. Downtown San Antonio has so much potential but if we are winning again I don’t see the catalyst to a new arena. Again, I’m an outsider so always interested in the local politics, dynamics that come along with this.

[ChumpDumper]

I completely agree. I’ll give a prime example as someone who has gone to games at both the Palace of Auburn Hills and recently Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit; what that arena did with regards to the gentrification of Detroit is incredible. Downtown San Antonio has so much potential but if we are winning again I don’t see the catalyst to a new arena. Again, I’m an outsider so always interested in the local politics, dynamics that come along with this.A new arena as part of a multibillion dollar Hemisfair redevelopment is already in the works.

[scott]

The ranking seems mostly based on location. Hard to argue that the location sucks ass

I went and saw the Spurs play @ LAC last year, and the game day experience between what the Spurs put out and what the Clippers put out is night and day. And it's not like Staples Center, or whatever the fuck it's called these days, is that new... it's older than the ATT Center, or whatever the fuck it's called these days.

[KingKev]

A new arena as part of a multibillion dollar Hemisfair redevelopment is already in the works.

FML google is free.

[ChumpDumper]

FML google is free.

lol don't sweat it.

There's been a discussion in this thread for awhile though the Hemisfair project isn't known about until the last few pages:

https://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302290

I saw a proposed site plan pdf somewhere; will try to find it again. It's pretty ambitious.

[Mitch Cumsteen]

The location is definitely terrible, but I don't get the food complaints. How many other arenas have Whataburger?

[exstatic]

Put a winning team together and it’s fine. I’m a Canadian who has been attending games since gm 1 of the 99 NBA Finals. I’ve been to 10-12 arenas on that list in the last 20 years. From an economic standpoint they never should have left downtown to begin with.

McCombs owned the AlamoDome concessions. He kept that when he sold the team. Spurs were drowning financially to the point that in,order to build the new (now the old) practice center, they had to borrow Sean Elliott’s final year of salary ($6M), then pay him back after they moved. From an economic standpoint point, they HAD to move out of the Alamodome, either to the SBC or to Seattle.

[Dex]

I really don't get the hate other than the location. Seems like every other arena

They literally stuck it in one of the ghettos of San Antonio and tried to sell it that it would "revitalize the area".

Meanwhile, most of the surrounding land is either owned by stock yards or is simply not worth revitalizing.

I actually like SBC/AT&T/Frost Center (or whatever the hell we are calling it now) once you get inside, but yeah...there is literally nothing to do outside of it and the parking situation ain't great either. There are like two bars within walking distance and one is basically a golf club which happens to sell beer.

[TimmyBuckets]

ESPN desperately wanting Wemby to go to a big market team like Lakers. Yet another obvious ruse from peespn.

[KingKev]

McCombs owned the AlamoDome concessions. He kept that when he sold the team. Spurs were drowning financially to the point that in,order to build the new (now the old) practice center, they had to borrow Sean Elliott’s final year of salary ($6M), then pay him back after they moved. From an economic standpoint point, they HAD to move out of the Alamodome, either to the SBC or to Seattle.

I know that you are up on both the history and current situation. Initially, the growing PE ownership was a worry for me but I do believe between the current diversified ownership, the Wemby windfall and San Antonio’s overall draw as a second tier affordable US city they have a perfect solution. I can’t wait.

[KobesAchilles]

Dallas has the best arenas in the state and it isn’t even close

[baseline bum]

All I care about is the sightlines are great; even in the back row of the AT&T Center the view is awesome. I don't piss away money on $9 nachos or $12 Bud Lights at the games though so I guess I can't offer an opinion on the concessions.

[baseline bum]

I went and saw the Spurs play @ LAC last year, and the game day experience between what the Spurs put out and what the Clippers put out is night and day. And it's not like Staples Center, or whatever the fuck it's called these days, is that new... it's older than the ATT Center, or whatever the fuck it's called these days.

I haven't been to a Clipper game since Balmer bought the team but I didn't think the Staples Center or whatever it's called now was especially amazing compared to the AT&T Center when Sterling owned them even when I went there the first year Staples was open. Never sat in the upper deck at Staples but I would guess it's worse than the upper deck of AT&T Center when there are three floors of luxury boxes under the upper deck at Staples.

[baseline bum]

Though I will say I miss the fuck out of the Via Park & Ride to games. Guess that ain't coming back until the Spurs start selling games out again. I loved using it and never having to deal with traffic.

[paperboy77]

Yeah the area sux but really... once you get in there it's about the game. Who writes these gay ass reviews anyway?

[exstatic]

Though I will say I miss the fuck out of the Via Park & Ride to games. Guess that ain't coming back until the Spurs start selling games out again. I loved using it and never having to deal with traffic.

Aldacos in Sunset Station used to have a trolley bus that was free with a dinner purchase validation. Loved that. I think Josephine Street bar and restaurant also had one.

[baseline bum]

Aldacos in Sunset Station used to have a trolley bus that was free with a dinner purchase validation. Loved that. I think Josephine Street bar and restaurant also had one.

Yeah I use Jospehine Street Bar's shuttle sometimes since I'd rather pay $20 to $25 on a nice meal than $20 on shitty parking at AT&T Center. Still liked using the Randolph Blvd Park & Ride more though since it's a short drive for me since I live out by Randolph AFB.

[scott]

I haven't been to a Clipper game since Balmer bought the team but I didn't think the Staples Center or whatever it's called now was especially amazing compared to the AT&T Center when Sterling owned them even when I went there the first year Staples was open. Never sat in the upper deck at Staples but I would guess it's worse than the upper deck of AT&T Center when there are three floors of luxury boxes under the upper deck at Staples.

Well, I sat like 4th row behind the basket (which was actually a terrible seat, tbh) to see Wemby... so I can't speak to the Poors Section seats.

[TXstbobcat]

Yeah I use Jospehine Street Bar's shuttle sometimes since I'd rather pay $20 to $25 on a nice meal than $20 on shitty parking at AT&T Center. Still liked using the Randolph Blvd Park & Ride more though since it's a short drive for me since I live out by Randolph AFB.

I used to use the crossroads park and ride to go to games. Really miss the park and ride. Was cheap and convenient.

maybe via will bring it back when the downtown arena is built.

[baseline bum]

Well, I sat like 4th row behind the basket (which was actually a terrible seat, tbh) to see Wemby... so I can't speak to the Poors Section seats.

I have only sat in rows 12-20 or so in Staples and the seats were nice but not really any different from the same seats in AT&T IMO. Though all I care about is good sightlines (unlike the shitty Alamodome) and not needing to take 20 minutes to go take a piss (like at Hemisfair Arena).

[DPG21920]

All I care about is the sightlines are great; even in the back row of the AT&T Center the view is awesome. I don't piss away money on $9 nachos or $12 Bud Lights at the games though so I guess I can't offer an opinion on the concessions.

Beers aren’t that bad tbh….they are like $14 but they are 240Z I think so it’s like $7 a beer. Not great but not outrageous in that context IMO

[DPG21920]

Aldacos in Sunset Station used to have a trolley bus that was free with a dinner purchase validation. Loved that. I think Josephine Street bar and restaurant also had one.

They still do - I live pretty close to there and they have the bus if you buy a meal.

[DPG21920]

Well, I sat like 4th row behind the basket (which was actually a terrible seat, tbh) to see Wemby... so I can't speak to the Poors Section seats.

I like the baseline view tbh….Im row 8 for my season tickets and I’ve always liked the view from there.

[scott]

I like the baseline view tbh….Im row 8 for my season tickets and I’ve always liked the view from there.

All depends on the angle I suppose... in my case, there was a giant basketball hoop in the way of seeing anything :lol

[Arcadian]

I really don't get the hate other than the location. Seems like every other arena

Yeah, I don't think location should be weighted so heavily in these rankings. I mean, once you're at the arena, the location doesn't matter. You're...in an enclosed environment with heavy security. Who cares at that point?

So you had to see a lower-income neighborhood on your drive there. Oh, the horror.

[TekXX]

The arena is fine, it's showing its age a little bit but it's not the worst in the league. The location, of course, is horrible. If they move downtown i hope they can revitalize the area because frankly downtown San Antonio ain't exactly the greatest either.

[SouthernFried]

I think the Location is great.

Keep it out of the way. Out of sight...out of mind. Just like the team.