Key Takeaways

• Since the 2022-23 season, the Spurs have moved two home games per season from San Antonio to Austin, and this season they have increased that to three, including one aligned with the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend.
• Criticism centers on the idea that taking home games away from San Antonio alienates the primary fan base, with quotes stressing the importance of serving hometown supporters and the perceived disrespect of reducing local access.
• Tim Salier, quoted from a San Antonio Express-News piece, argues that the team should balance benefits across fans who can attend Austin events versus those who remain in San Antonio, highlighting a broader frustration with the arrangement.
• The article notes Kevin Durant’s Texas connection—having played at the University of Texas—fuels strong Austin-area recognition, potentially boosting Rockets attendance in a familiar local context.
• There is a suggestion of exploring alternative fan engagement methods, such as summer camps at the Moody Center, rather than permanently relocating additional home games, to maintain city-by-city loyalty.
• Alongside the Austin games, a fourth ‘home’ game is slated for Paris in January, illustrating the broader pattern of distributing home fixtures beyond San Antonio.
• Overall, the piece frames the Austin experiment as a test of home-court identity and market strategy, with momentum described as potentially fragile given competing fan bases and scheduling pressures.