SAN ANTONIO — When Spurs great Manu Ginobili first came to San Antonio in 2002, he had no idea about the community or Texas.
But soon learned how fast San Antonio took him in as one of their own.
"I got here 21 years ago without knowing anything about this community, about Texas, about San Antonio," he said. "I've always said from day one I've been welcomed and accepted as if I was born here."
That is why he took part in the Frost Bank Plaza ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open a community-focused space where all of San Antonio can come together.
The Frost Plaza is an outdoor community gathering space that functions as the welcome space for The Rock at La Cantera campus and the broader community through outdoor events, impact programming, and activities. Not to mention the huge LED screen for Spurs game viewing parties.
This is all of an effort to bring San Antonio together.
"I'm always in a debt of gratitude (to San Antonio) and the same with the organization the Spurs," he said.
Joining Ginobili to cut the ribbon was Kara Allen, Chief Impact Officer for SS&E, and Phil Green, CEO of Frost.
Spurs fans and families also joined the celebration which included the team's NBA title trophies on display, music, a food truck, and more as they cheered the official opening of the plaza.
Ginobili, who was hired by the team as a consultant, spoke to the crowd admiring the new plaza and noting how it joins the biking trails and the impact it will have on the community.
"To be part of all this, I'm proud of it," he said. "It is good to support great causes."
The event also held a youth basketball clinic where Ginobili got a chance to speak to the young athletes before their clinic got its start.
"You talk about San Antonio anywhere in the world, you associate with the Spurs and their partners," he said. "You can see what the Spurs, with Frost, are doing in the community for so many decades."
"They are two groups that will always put people first and they are very proud to be a part of this community. It's great to see something like this created in which families can get together and eat and celebrate and watch and do stuff outdoors."
From fun holiday activities like making snow globes, lawn games, cookie decorating, and more, the Frost Plaza ribbon-cutting ceremony gave San Antonio a glimpse of the positive impact it will have on the city and for Spurs fans moving forward.
"This will make another space in which you can be close (to the Spurs) and the community can gather to watch a game or to be close to where the players are," he said. "It's going to be a beautiful park and it's connected with the trails of the city and restaurants and food trucks. So it's a win-win situation for everybody."