The San Antonio Spurs have Bexar County’s backing to play more home games in Austin and outside of the United States over the next two NBA seasons, as team officials said they are growing their franchise’s brand far beyond San Antonio.

County commissioners voted unanimously April 18 to amend the Spurs’ current nonrelocation agreement with Bexar County to permit the team to play twice in Austin in events designated as home games each in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. The amendment also lets the Spurs play a third international home game each in the next two seasons.

Officials from the county and the Spurs said this marks an extension of a pilot program that the Spurs underwent in their 2022-23 season where they played three home regular season contests away from San Antonio’s AT&T Center—one match in Mexico City last December and two games at Austin’s Moody Center earlier in April.

Spurs CEO R.C. Buford and Bobby Perez, Spurs’ chief legal officer and general counsel, said the non-San Antonio home matches generated nearly 30,000 leads in terms of marketing for long-term ticket sales and other business opportunities.

Buford said the Spurs is on a mission to solidify their brand between San Antonio and Austin, two of the nation’s fastest growing cities.

“We feel it prudent to engage the fastest growing region in the nation. We feel as we expand our brand, it’ll only bring great things to the Spurs and the city," Buford said. “San Antonio is home as we build the next generation of championship teams.”

But Buford and Perez also acknowledged that the Spurs’ attempt to market themselves outside of San Antonio has prompted words of concern from some local civic leaders and Spurs fans who fear this portends the possibility of the team relocating elsewhere.

Buford and Perez said despite the Spurs finishing 22-60 this season, the team enjoyed much support from fans and the local corporate community during the franchise’s season-long 50th anniversary celebration.

The Spurs set an NBA single-game attendance record of 68,323 with the Jan. 12 bout at the Alamodome against the Golden State Warriors, Buford and Perez said.

“San Antonio is home. We also appreciate the support you’ve given us to test and learn during our 50th anniversary season,” Buford said.

Buford and Perez said Spurs have no desire to relocate, emphasizing the team currently building The Rock at La Cantera, a $500 million, multiphase complex in northwest San Antonio that will feature a human performance research center, a 22-acre public park, a Spurs training and performance center, a public outdoor event plaza, and space for medical, hospitality and office use.

Buford said the Spurs look to unveil the first phase of construction at The Rock at La Cantera in the coming months.

Commissioners expressed more confidence in the Spurs’ long-term vision for San Antonio. Precinct 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez said the Spurs and Bexar County are business partners in a long-range transaction.

“We’re building upon a foundation here that is already solid,” Rodriguez said. “We are business partners in this transaction, and we want our business partners to be successful because if they’re successful, we’re all successful.”

Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert said, despite some Spurs fans’ worries, “the Spurs are very much part of the soul of this city.”

“These moves are good for the brand, for the city and for this Commissioners Court,” Calvert added.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Grant Moody said he was excited to tour The Rock at La Cantera.

“I appreciate your commitment to the community and your assurances that the Spurs will be here for the long term,” Moody said.

County Judge Peter Sakai said the Spurs’ wider marketing efforts should reflect not only growth in San Antonio and Austin, but the team’s popularity in deep South Texas, too. Sakai suggested playing a game in the Rio Grande Valley.

“Spurs are the best goodwill ambassadors,” Sakai said. “Bexar County is their home for the long haul.”