In San Antonio, celebratory traffic jams and blaring horns are a universal sign of a Spurs playoff win — but also part of a growing debate about what the tradition has become.

Why it matters: As the Spurs make another postseason push, the honking has taken on a new — and often rowdier — life, fueled by pent-up excitement and a new generation of fans.

Flashback: The custom dates to the Spurs' June 25, 1999, NBA championship win. Fans remember the honking erupted almost instantly on Commerce Street that night.

• Fans leaving the Alamodome, then the Spurs' home court, merged with downtown crowds eager to celebrate, helping spark the tradition.

Yes, but: Recent celebrations on Southwest Military Drive have generated viral videos that some fans say don't reflect the spirit of the tradition, including dangerous driving, people climbing and dancing on cars, and other chaotic scenes.

• During the ongoing conference semifinals, three arrests were made between Games 2 and 5 for reckless driving and DWI on Military Drive, though no arrests were reported on Commerce Street.

Between the lines: Debate has also centered on the San Antonio Police Department limiting access to popular honking spots.

• Fans were cut off from Commerce Street during Fiesta, and some have recently encountered limited routes into downtown from Southtown unless entering from the highway.
• SAPD declined to answer questions about how many officers are deployed and where the department decides to stage in preparation.

What they're saying: Fans have also debated which wins warrant honking. We asked readers. Here's what they have to say:

• "SA should honk after every win!! We are a celebration city, Fiesta is in our soul. Why limit joy and camaraderie," Evan E. tells Axios.
• Terri Y. agrees: "HONK!!! AFTER ALL WINS!!!"
• Daniel B. says honking should be reserved for championship victories, "otherwise it just gets watered down."

What's next: The Spurs have a chance to win the Western Conference Semifinals tomorrow. Tipoff is at 8:30pm in Minnesota.

Speaking of the team, Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) said yesterday it has hired nine firms to design, plan and build the team's downtown arena and surrounding entertainment district.

Why it matters: The announcement marks a key step forward for the long-discussed arena project.

The latest: The lead firms include Marquee Development (district development), Sasaki (master district planner), Overland International (arena architect), Pape-Dawson (civil engineering), CAA Icon (project management), Stafford Sports (strategic planning), Goldman Sachs (financial advisory), Hunton Andrews Kurth (legal counsel), and Jorge Rodriguez Financial Consulting.

• Pape-Dawson and Jorge Rodriguez Financial Consulting are based in San Antonio.

Between the lines: SS&E doesn't yet have a timeline for arena construction, spokesperson Liberty Swift tells Axios.

What they're saying: "We are bringing together the right partners to deliver something San Antonio can be proud of," SS&E CEO R.C. Buford said in a statement.

The big picture: SS&E plans to contribute $500 million toward the $1.3 billion arena and cover any cost overruns, while Bexar County and the city plan to contribute up to $311 million and $489 million, respectively.

• The city's portion will be backed in part by revenue from new development, like apartments and retail, that the Spurs plan to build around the arena.

🧾 San Antonio City Council members are calling for an audit of SAPD overtime spending. (SA Current)

🌡️ High heat is expected to surge across South Texas throughout the weekend, with San Antonio-area temperatures climbing to potentially dangerous levels. (Express-News 🔑)

🤖 A UT San Antonio team was named the lone U.S. finalist in a global engineering competition for building a robot that performs maintenance on 3D printers. (SA Report)

Thursday

🪗 Celebrate four days of culture at the Tejano Conjunto Festival, kicking off today and culminating Sunday with a tribute to Flaco Jiménez at Rosedale Park featuring Los Texmaniacs and international guest musicians.

• Hours and admission prices vary.

🦁 Feast your way through Zoo La-La, where 50+ local restaurants will serve food and drink samples alongside live performances by Tag Team and Digital Underground at the San Antonio Zoo, 7-10:30pm.

• Adults only; tickets start at $132.13.

Friday

📣 Cheer on the Spurs for Game 6 at The Rock at La Cantera's official watch party, starting at 7:30pm.

• Fans are welcome to bring their own chairs and blankets.

Saturday

🥯 Share stories and memories of San Antonio's East Side at a free community breakfast hosted by the Office of Historic Preservation and Carver Branch Library at the Denver Heights Community Center, 10:30am-12:30pm.

⛳ Celebrate the grand reopening of Cool Crest Miniature Golf in the Deco District with live music, happy hour specials, raffle prizes and a chance to win free mini golf for a year, 1-9pm.

• Admission is free; mini golf pricing varies.