San Antonio election results: Voters support new Spurs arena

• Supporters framed the vote as a way to move downtown forward and create a new entertainment district for residents. Opponents said there are too many needs in San Antonio that deserve focus over a new arena.

By the numbers: Results from all vote centers showed 52% of voters approved Proposition B, while 48% rejected it.

Meanwhile, voters approved Proposition A, to increase the venue tax to fund an expansion of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. About 56% voted for it and 44% against it.

What they're saying: "We're ready to do something really special. It's going to help the Spurs, it's going to help the rodeo, it's going to help all sectors of the community, and it's going to be right in (the) heart of our city," Spurs Sports & Entertainment chairman Peter J. Holt told reporters Tuesday night, per KSAT.

• "This is something we deserve."

The other side: "We are an organization that respects the will of the voter," the Rev. Jimmy Drennan, a leader with the COPS/Metro group that opposed Prop B., told reporters after seeing the early vote on Tuesday.

• "We are very happy to see how many people have voted ... and how important they believe their voice is in this whole issue."

Zoom in: The Spurs performed well in the lead-up to Election Day, starting the season 5-0 before losing to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

• Holt told fans at the sold-out home opener to support the vote.

Between the lines: Polling in early October showed the arena plan faced an uphill battle, but the Spurs pushed hard on their messaging in the lead-up to the election.

• A political action committee largely backed by the team spent more than $7 million on the campaign.

State of play: Voter turnout topped 19%, beating turnout in this year's mayoral election.

Catch up quick: Bexar County's venue tax is a fund generated by a 1.75% tax on hotel rooms and a 5% tax on car rentals. Propositions A and B sought to raise the hotel portion of the tax to 2%.

• That will generate about $311 million for a Spurs arena and about $197 million for a rodeo expansion.

• The rodeo plans to make upgrades to draw year-round events and concerts, and to use the Frost Bank Center for more days.

How it works: The funding framework for a roughly $1.3 billion arena, at the site of the Institute of Texan Cultures at Hemisfair, includes:

• $500 million from the Spurs
• $489 million from a city bond that does not require voter approval
• $311 million from the county venue tax increase

The city's portion will be backed in part by revenue from the Spurs' arena lease and property taxes on new development built around the arena.

The intrigue: Arena supporters often framed the vote as a way to keep the Spurs in San Antonio, implying a threat that the team could leave if owners didn't get what they wanted.

• Economists who study sports facilities said it's an empty threat.

What we're watching: How the city will work to make the surrounding entertainment district dubbed "Project Marvel" a reality; and how the City Council will decide to spend $75 million from the Spurs in a community benefits agreement.