SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 30 -- On November 2, 1999 -- the very night the San Antonio Spurs donned their first championship rings -- Bexar County voters overwhelmingly approved an initiative sponsored by the County, San Antonio Livestock Exposition (SALE), Coliseum Advisory Board, and the Spurs to build a new community arena.

This victory was underscored in July 2000 when San Antonio-based SBC Communications Inc., a member of the Spurs ownership group, announced a 20-year, $41 million naming-rights sponsorship of the facility, giving the "community arena" its identity.

David Robinson, along with local officials and other guests, watched as the SBC Center logo was unfurled during a ceremony held at SBC's corporate headquarters in downtown San Antonio.

Edward E. Whitacre, Jr., chairman and CEO of SBC Communications, affirmed the corporation's commitment to San Antonio. the Spurs and the Stock Show and Rodeo.

"This announcement underscores SBC's commitment to San Antonio, the Spurs and the Stock Show and Rodeo," he said. "We are grateful to call San Antonio home, and we are pleased to be associated with a state-of-the-art facility that will benefit our community."

Holt echoed his appreciation to SBC.

"The SBC Center will be custom-made for San Antonio, worthy of the best fans in the NBA," he said. "The players and the entire Spurs organization are grateful to SBC for its ongoing commitment to the team and to our community. Thanks to SBC, we will be able to offer something for everyone at The SBC Center."

SBC's naming rights support will mean that several thousand tickets at each Spurs home game will be affordable for San Antonio families. Secondly, with SBC as naming rights sponsor, the SBC Center will provide a high-tech environment for events and business meetings, with state-of-the-art video displays, scoreboards and Internet access.

The SBC Center is also expected to increase the number of scholarships offered by SALE. Officials anticipate that SBC's sponsorship with SALE will result in more than $50,000 annually in scholarship funds for area students.

Said Mary Nan West, past chairman of SALE, "With SBC involved in the project, we are sure to have one of the most high-tech sites for any stock show or rodeo in the world as well as some of the best sight lines anywhere for watching a rodeo."

SBC has approximately 8,000 employees in San Antonio, making it one of the city's largest private employers. With more than 204,000 employees, SBC is the 13th largest employer in the U.S., with annual revenues that rank it among the largest Fortune 500 companies.