SAN ANTONIO — Right across the Nelson Wolff Stadium parking lot stands Tamalitos, a Mexican restaurant that's been in operation for the past several years.
"After the game or before the game, people come in and we get a lot of business," said Owner Alfredo Casas. "They give a lot of business, a lot of work to people, so that's how we get the support. But now they're planning to move, so our business is going to feel it too."
The Missions have been talking about a new baseball stadium for the past several years, with new conversations surrounding the possibility of a downtown stadium for the Double-A minor league team. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai just sent a letter to Major League Baseball (MLB) explaining their intent to finance and construct a new downtown baseball stadium.
The letter is nonbinding.
While a majority of the neighbors who live around Wolff Stadium at U.S. Highway 90 and South Callaghan explained they were indifferent of the Missions' future, Judy Hernandez said she would miss the feeling of community that comes during a home game.
"Our community is small, and not many around here can afford to go to the event themselves," the mom of four said. "So we enjoy when the fireworks are here. I mean, you can see everybody, they come out and they're watching the fireworks. From our house we have a clear view.”
For Hernandez, moving the Missions downtown also means she'd be more hesitant to attend.
"You can be outside and you just hear the game, you hear the cheering and, you know, it's just something you kind of enjoy from a far for us, " she said. "Here in our community, it's peaceful. The people that come to the Missions [games], truly come to enjoy the games."
Melissa Cabello Havrda, the City Council member for District 6, which encompasses Wolff Stadium, outlined in a lengthy statement to KENS 5 that when the Missions gained new ownership in November 2022, she and the new leadership discussed economic development promises that were made but never fulfilled when the stadium was originally built.
"As discussions progress about possibly building a new stadium downtown, I am committed to ensuring that the future of the Edgewood community remains central to these conversations," Havrda wrote in the statement. "This is a fresh opportunity to bring together our brightest minds and develop a plan that will transform Edgewood into a thriving community where jobs are created and families can prosper."
San Antonio City Council is planning to discuss the baseball stadium and final agreement with its owners on August 14 at the B-Session meeting.