Spurs playoff run was a windfall for San Antonio bars
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San Antonio bars gained a huge bump in business during the Spurs' playoffs run, new data analyzed by Axios shows.
Why it matters: Local watering holes always run on tight margins, and many in neighborhoods known for nightlife have struggled amid city construction.
State of play: The playoff experience brought renewed energy and pride to San Antonio, and it showed.
- While the go-to spots to watch games saw a jump in alcohol sales this May, the business boom spread beyond the usual Spurs HQs — smaller neighborhood bars that have TVs transformed into watch party hubs with standing room only.
What they're saying: Andy Palacios, co-owner of Atlee's Rally, says the Spurs' playoff run gave the St. Paul Square bar a much-needed boost.
- "The Spurs run gave us another breath of life," he tells Axios. "At the risk of sounding a little dramatic, but also being completely honest, if the Spurs didn't make that playoff run, this interview might have been about how Atlee's never quite rallied after a very challenging first year in business."
By the numbers: Atlee's saw its alcohol sales jump 44% this May compared to May 2025, per alcohol sales data from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Other bars saw even bigger increases.
- High Horse Ice House near the St. Mary's Strip saw its alcohol sales jump 158% in the same time frame, increasing from $47,330 to $122,162. River North Icehouse saw its alcohol sales skyrocket 225%, from $101,677 to $330,834.
- Both are in neighborhoods where recent city construction projects plagued businesses and caused some to close.
Other popular playoff bars that saw a jump in alcohol sales in May include:
- Chiflada's Cocktail Bar, 92%
- McIntyre's North Star, 63%
- The Friendly Spot, 50%
- Hills & Dales Ice House, 37%
- Little Woodrow's Stone Oak, 27%
- The Break Room Live Oak, 27%
- The Aquaduck Beer Garden, 26%
- Serna's Backyard Sports Bar, 21%
Zoom in: American Express data shared with Axios shows spending at San Antonio neighborhood bars and local fast-casual restaurants jumped 46% on NBA Finals game days in June compared with the same days a year earlier.
The big picture: San Antonio experienced a $13.8 million economic impact from the Spurs' Western Conference playoff run in April and May, per data Visit San Antonio shared with Axios.
- The NBA Finals in June could have brought up to another $22 million in spending to San Antonio had the series, which ended after five games, gone on to seven games.
- The organization compiled the estimates based on hotels, food, game tickets and local transportation for visitors only. They are based on data from MMGY Domestic Leisure Traveler Study, local hotel data and online ticketing sources.
What's next: Palacios says the World Cup is helping Atlee's Rally bridge the gap before the expected slowdown ahead of football season.
- "Thanks to the momentum we built over the last couple of months, we won't have to fight as hard just to get our name out there," he says.