Frost Bank Center – San Antonio Spurs

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14

Frost Bank Center 1 Frost Bank Center Drive San Antonio, TX 78219

San Antonio Spurs website Frost Bank Center website

Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 18,418

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San Antonio Spurs – Frost Bank Center

Founded in 1967 as the then Dallas Chaparrals in the now defunct American Basketball Association (ABA), the San Antonio Spurs have become one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. Becoming one of the best organizations in all professional sports, the Spurs set an NBA record of winning at least 50 games a season from the 1999-2000 season to the 2016-2017 season.

Along the way, the Silver and Black won five NBA Championships, buoyed in part by a slew of Hall of Famers and all-time greats such as Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginóbili, and Head Coach Gregg Popovich. The last four of the Spurs championships were captured while the club has called the (now named) Frost Bank Center its home.

Built in the early 2000s, the arena has undergone numerous upgrades and renovations over the years, including a massive renovation in 2015 to update the scoreboards, wi-fi, sound system, and lighting. However, massive changes are looming on the horizon for the Spurs and for Frost Bank Center, with the potential for a new downtown arena. While the future may be uncertain, the present still brings a lot of excitement for Spurs fans at Frost Bank Center.

Food & Beverage   5

The Spurs have always done a fantastic job in the area of concessions – the club has never rested on its metaphorical laurels in this category, with each season bringing new additions, upgrades, new offerings, and more for fans, and this season is no different. Fans attending games at Frost Bank Center can experience everything from burgers and chicken fingers to bulgogi and beignets.

Virtually anything and everything one can imagine is available at the stands and kiosks sprinkled on every level of the arena. New this year is a Pluckers Wing Bar stand, offering up a line of its signature boneless wings and fries. The Texas-based Pluckers joins other chain spots in the arena, such as Whataburger and Pizza Hut, which also serve pared-down versions of their respective menus.

Also new this year is Frost Bank Center’s Spurs culinary residency program, which features a rotating lineup of local chefs and restaurants serving up some of their signature menu items, expanding from their current location in the HEB Fan Zone on the plaza level to a larger home in the Frost Bank Club on the club level. Fans can expect sushi some nights, street tacos on other days, or barbecue depending on the schedule.

One last thing that fans and visitors should be on the lookout for are several new self-service kiosks, including several self-service ‘stores’ where fans can purchase all the traditional game day items – your popcorn, nachos, hot dogs, and even beer – using AI technology to speed things along. However, one stand takes this to a whole other level, as fans can get their own margaritas and daiquiris at the Dax & Marg stand. What a time to be alive!

Atmosphere   4

I’ve been coming to games at Frost Bank Center since it opened, and the one thing they do well is make sure every game feels like an important event. While this has been a little tricky in recent seasons, the Spurs and Frost Bank Center still pull out all the stops, for example with live music outdoors in the Michelob Ultra Club before games and after certain matchups.

The Spurs host numerous theme nights, many of which feature fan giveaways, specialty jerseys, and even updates to the court (such as on their ‘City Edition’ nights). There are fan contests during the breaks, there is a live DJ playing music throughout the game, and the Spurs, like many pro teams, run a version of a raffle/lotto for fans at each home contest.

Other points to mention in this section are numerous photo opportunities/large art installations all through Frost Bank Center. These, along with the team championship and retired jersey banners in the rafters, not to mention the five Larry O’Brien trophies in the display case on the plaza level, are some of the most photographed images of the arena every time the Spurs take the court at Frost Bank Center.

Neighborhood   3

If you have a moment to take a read through the linked article mentioned in the opening paragraphs, which deals with the potential new arena, it will shed a great deal of light onto the score given in this ‘Neighborhood’ section. When the area for the now Frost Bank Center was chosen way back in the late 1990s, part of the reason given was that the new home of the Spurs would help revitalize the east side of the Alamo City – a new arena would bring in new businesses, new restaurants, new hotels, new merchants, etc.

By and large that has not happened, and the area around Frost Bank Center looks the same now as it did 30-plus years ago. Fans coming to see a Spurs game will more than likely need to make the 15 to 20-minute drive into downtown San Antonio for any food, entertainment, or lodging selections before and/or after games here.

There are a few fast-food options and motel-type facilities that fans can turn to in a pinch, however. Directly across the street from the arena is Willow Springs Golf Course, one of the city’s many municipal offerings; if golf is your passion and you have the time, this is an affordable option for you.

If it’s not, make the drive from downtown, see the Alamo, stroll the River Walk, shop and eat at the Historic Pearl or Shops at River Center, and rest your head at Grand Hyatt River Walk or Hotel Emma – this is the San Antonio you want to experience.

Fans   5

The Spurs average over 18,100 fans per game, which puts them squarely in the middle of the NBA pack. However, looking at this number you’ll see this is a virtual sellout for every home game. This is quite a testament to the fanbase, as the Spurs have been on the downswing as their legends and Hall of Famers have gradually retired in the past few years.

You cannot doubt the passion of the fans here, though, as they come to the games loud and decked out in Spurs gear and jerseys, and you get the sense they love this team. This is especially true as the Spurs are the proverbial only game in town. This is a proud fanbase that anxiously awaits a return to glory.

Access   4

Despite its remoteness – or perhaps, in spite of is better – Frost Bank Center is surprisingly easy to get to. It lies between two major highways in Interstates 10 and 35; the exits are clearly marked and there is an ample number of parking spaces on site. If you do drive in, both routes do tend to get backed up with traffic before and after games.

The arena is a 22-minute drive from San Antonio International Airport if you’re flying in from somewhere, or a 15 to 20-minute drive from downtown San Antonio.

If you don’t want to drive, the city’s mass transportation option has bus routes that will drop you off near the arena; make sure to check times for the last pickup, however.

Return on Investment   4

Each season, I’m continually amazed at the ticket prices the Spurs are still able to offer fans. For certain games, single game tickets can be had for the bargain basement price of $17, which is a tremendous deal for fans in this day and age.

The rest of the experience – the concessions, souvenirs, and parking – are commensurate with what you will find throughout the rest of the NBA. Concession items can be bought on somewhat of a sliding scale; bigger ticket, higher end items are going to cost more, but more common items are still somewhat affordable. For parking, however, it depends on how far you’re willing to walk, but the lowest cost I could find was $25.

You can still take comfort in the ticket prices, however – that will help ease the wallet pain of the rest of the in-game experience.

Extras   4

Before we delve into this topic too much, I have to admit right off the bat that I’m a massive fan of the Spurs mascot, The Coyote. Growing up in San Antonio, he has been a ubiquitous part of the team and the city for over 40 years. Spurs fans are indoctrinated into the team usually by a combination of the fandom of someone in their immediate family and/or through the antics of the Coyote.

Still going strong, the Coyote draws huge reactions from the home crowd whenever he comes out during breaks – on the strength of him waving his banners, dressing up in an amazing array of costumes, and in his heroics capturing wayward flying invaders to the arena, I almost gave this section a score of 5.

The Silver and Black were one of the first clubs to do away with traditional cheer and dance teams in the 2010s, instead introducing a co-ed Spurs Hype Squad that performs dance, tumbling, and acrobatic routines multiple times each game.

Coupling these with the overall atmosphere – the live music, the DJ, the art installations – gives Spurs games at Frost Bank Center a unique look and feel unlike any other in the NBA.

Final Thoughts

As I said, I’ve been coming to Spurs games at Frost Bank Center since it opened, and literally its only drawback is where it’s located in the Alamo City. The experience is still fantastic and has only gotten better over the years. Basketball fans and sports fans alike need to add it to their bucket list while they can; it is incredibly affordable to see a game here, and it will be good to get in on the ground floor while the Spurs plot their way back to the top of the league.

Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.