The Spurs ensuring at least a six-game Western Conference Finals series against the Thunder and making a return trip to the Alamo City has bought the Spurs “more time to leverage their brand locally and nationally” and “more opportunities for Visit San Antonio to build on the national -- even international -- exposure,” according to W. Scott Bailey of the SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL. The extra exposure is “significant” -- especially as the Spurs and other key stakeholders advance a new arena district plan that “could draw significant private sector investment to the heart of downtown San Antonio.” The four local nuns known as the Salesian Sisters that sat courtside at Frost Bank Center during Game 4 “drew national attention” to the team. NBC’s skyline shots of downtown and the Hemisfair area also “were priceless promos that put the city in front of a larger captive audience.” That is “significant” as Spurs ownership and other San Antonio leaders have “begun the process” of crafting a multibillion-dollar downtown sports and entertainment district anchored by a new NBA arena. Local entrepreneurs “will be key to those plans.” So, too, will national and even international players who “may take an interest in investing in those plans” (SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/26).
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Robert O’Connell writes C Victor Wembanyama created an “unprecedented personal fan section of 83 maniacs: chanting in unison, dressing like it’s Halloween, and generally making life a nightmare for opponents in the most important game of the year.” The fanatics are “called the Jackals.” Thursday will mark the Jackals’ “most important test of the season,” aiming to provide the “crucial edge” as the Spurs try to stave off elimination (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/27).
