This venue, later named HemisFair Arena, was one of the three main facilities built as part of the convention center complex. The main purpose for the venue was to provide additional facilities to meet the city’s growing sports/entertainment needs.
During HemisFair the theater hosted several of the day’s top entertainers including:
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
Texas Youth Rodeo
Miss Country Music USA Western Show
Ringling Bro’s. & Barnum & Bailey Circus
Pat Boone and The Mills Bros.
Henry Mancini and Sergio Mendez
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Tony Aguilar Mexican Rodeo
Roy Rodgers & Dale Evans
Louis Armstrong and Harpers Bazaar
Dale Robertson Western Show
Bamford Parade of Stars
Ice Capades
In 1973 the arena became the new home to the city’s first NBA basketball team, “San Antonio Spurs”. In later years to accommodate growing attendance numbers the roof of the arena was raised to accommodate an upper seating level. The Spurs remained in HemisFair Arena till 1991.
Below is a scan of a postcard showing the expanded interior of the arena, as well as a video posted on the official San Antonio Spurs You Tube.
In mid 1995 the arena was closed and demolished to make room for expansion of the convention center.
434 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
