The San Antonio City Council denied a motion Monday to reopen public funding for the San Antonio Spurs' new arena to a citywide vote, clearing another hurdle for the $1.3 billion downtown project. The arena will be funded in part through $489 million in municipal bonds.

The funding plan received council approval after county voters approved a separate $311 million contribution through tourism taxes last November. The Spurs have committed to covering the remaining $500 million along with any cost overruns.

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones had campaigned for a new public vote on the $489 million council-approved package, seeking to place the issue on November's ballot. The council's denial Monday allows the project to proceed as originally planned.

A separate, broader municipal bond issuance tied to the arena still requires a general public vote under the deal's term sheet, though the structure of that vote is not expected to be finalized until September.

Spurs CEO RC Buford addressed the council before Monday's vote and issued a statement following the decision.

"Today's decision allows San Antonio to move forward on a path that was established through years of work, public discussion, City and County action and last year's vote," said Buford. "We can now turn our full attention to delivering on that shared vision and the transformational opportunity ahead for our city.

"We remain committed to working alongside our public and community partners to deliver a downtown arena and district that strengthens San Antonio for generations to come."

The Spurs currently play at Frost Bank Center, one of the NBA's oldest arenas, located in a quieter section of East San Antonio. The new downtown facility is part of the larger Project Marvel revitalization effort, which also includes modernizing the Alamodome and expanding the city's convention center.

Construction is projected to begin in 2029, with the Spurs aiming to open the new arena in time for the 2032-33 season. The project is widely viewed as essential to keeping the franchise anchored in San Antonio as the team's presence in Austin continues to grow.