HemisFair Arena opened on April 6, 1968, in downtown San Antonio as part of the HemisFair ’68 world’s fair, rising near the newly built Tower of the Americas. What began as an exposition venue soon became the beating heart of the city’s pro sports scene, hosting events for nearly three decades before the convention center that birthed it eventually claimed its footprint.
The arena found its lasting identity in 1973, when the Dallas Chaparrals relocated to San Antonio and became the Spurs, moving into HemisFair Arena as their home court. Over the next twenty seasons, the building earned a reputation as one of the loudest arenas in the NBA, packed with fans whose energy became part of the Spurs’ early franchise lore.
- San Antonio Spurs played here 1973–1993. See every Spurs arena →
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): San Antonio Spurs (ABA/NBA, 1973-1993)
- Location: 601 HemisFair Way, San Antonio, Texas
- Opened: April 6, 1968
- Closed/Demolished: Closed May 31, 1995; demolished June 1995
- Capacity: 16,057 (basketball, after 1978 expansion; originally 10,146)
- Notable Fact: First NBA arena with a center-mounted JumboTron scoreboard, added in 1986
From World’s Fair Venue to Spurs Battleground
The arena’s original 10,146-seat bowl proved too small as the Spurs’ popularity grew, prompting a 1978 renovation that raised the roof and added an upper deck, pushing capacity past 16,000. The tight, steeply raked seating bowl put fans close to the action, and the building’s reputation for deafening crowd noise became a genuine home-court advantage during the Spurs’ early playoff runs.
HemisFair Arena also briefly hosted the San Antonio Force of the Arena Football League in 1992, and it was fitted with one of the first center-hung JumboTron video scoreboards in pro sports when it debuted in 1986, a feature that helped modernize the in-arena fan experience well before most other arenas followed suit.
The Final Years and Demolition
The Spurs played their last game at HemisFair Arena on May 20, 1993, a playoff loss to the Phoenix Suns decided by a famous Charles Barkley shot, before moving to the larger Alamodome. The building hosted its final ticketed event, a Van Halen concert, on March 25, 1995, and closed for good after a high school graduation ceremony on May 30, 1995.
Demolition followed in June 1995, clearing the site for an expansion of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Little of the original structure remains today, though its decades as the Spurs’ first true home are still remembered by longtime San Antonio fans.
Explore more: Explore more historic stadiums.
Team-color face paint in a twist-up stick — no brushes, no mess in the car.
Sized to the NFL's 12x6x12 clear-bag rule. Fits snacks, a jacket and a rally towel.
A see-through purse that looks like a purse. Works for most stadium, arena and concert bag policies.
HemisFair Arena FAQs
When did HemisFair Arena open?
It opened on April 6, 1968, as part of the HemisFair ’68 world’s fair in downtown San Antonio.
Which team played at HemisFair Arena?
The San Antonio Spurs made it their home court from 1973, when they relocated from Dallas, until 1993, when they moved to the Alamodome.
Why was HemisFair Arena demolished?
It closed in May 1995 and was torn down that June to make way for an expansion of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on the same site.
Get More from HemisFair Arena
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate HemisFair Arena, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.