Free Spurs Open Scrimmage Gives San Antonio Fans First Look at Team Before 2026-27 Season
For San Antonio Spurs fans who have been counting down the weeks until basketball returns, there is an opportunity to see the Silver & Black on the court before the preseason even begins.
The 2026-27 Silver & Black Open Scrimmage, presented by Ticketmaster, is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. at Frost Bank Center. Admission is free, but there is an important catch: fans must enter through the Official Spurs Fan Club for a chance to receive tickets.
Doors will open at 5 p.m., and parking will be free in Lots 1-7.
The event arrives after a memorable season for San Antonio. The Spurs finished 62-20 in 2025-26 and returned to the NBA Finals for the first time since their 2014 championship season, ultimately falling to the New York Knicks. Along the way, San Antonio defeated the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game Western Conference Finals.
That postseason run brought another generation of Spurs basketball firmly into view, with Victor Wembanyama helping lead a young roster back onto the league's biggest stage under head coach Mitch Johnson. For local fans, the October scrimmage will offer one of the first chances to see how that group looks as it turns the page toward another season.
How to Get Free Spurs Open Scrimmage Tickets
Because the Spurs expect high demand, the open scrimmage will not operate as a simple first-come, first-served event.
Fans can visit Spurs.com/OpenScrimmage or text SCRIMMAGE to 210-444-5940 to join the Official Spurs Fan Club and enter for tickets. Existing Fan Club members must enter as well.
The deadline is Sunday, Sept. 20, at 11:59 p.m.
Each entrant will be eligible to receive up to four free tickets while supplies last. Winners are expected to be notified by Monday, Sept. 21, and will have 24 hours to claim their tickets before another winner may be selected.
All tickets will be general admission and cannot be transferred or resold.
Current Spurs season ticket members do not need to enter the drawing. Members are guaranteed up to four tickets per account while supplies last and must claim them through their Account Manager by Sept. 13 at 11:59 p.m.
A First Look Before the Spurs' Regular Season Begins
The open scrimmage will feature four 10-minute quarters, giving fans an informal preview of the team before San Antonio begins its official preseason schedule Oct. 8 against the Atlanta Hawks at Frost Bank Center.
The regular season begins with a notable matchup.
The Spurs will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Frost Bank Center, revisiting the matchup that decided last season's Western Conference championship. The nationally televised game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Central.
That makes the Oct. 4 open scrimmage more than a casual offseason gathering. It is the first public glimpse of a team coming off its deepest postseason run in more than a decade.
Johnson, who became the Spurs' 19th head coach in 2025 following Gregg Popovich's transition to president of basketball operations, led San Antonio through his first full season as head coach and was selected to coach in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
The recent success adds another chapter to a franchise whose five NBA championships remain woven into San Antonio's sports identity. The Spurs won titles in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014 before returning to the Finals in 2026.
Spurs Give Yard Sale Adds a Community Component
The evening will also include an opportunity for fans to support Spurs Give, the organization's nonprofit community arm.
A Spurs Give yard sale will begin in the ULTRA Club at 5 p.m. and continue throughout the scrimmage. Fans will be able to shop discounted Spurs merchandise, including City Edition items, memorabilia and other gear, with proceeds supporting Spurs Give's community programs.
Season ticket members will receive early access to the yard sale beginning at 4:15 p.m.
Fans inside Frost Bank Center will also find discounted concession items through Spurs Steals, a value menu offered at select arena locations. The Spurs Fan Shop will offer a 15% discount on merchandise during the event.
Local Basketball Coaches Will Get Their Own Look Behind the Scenes
The Spurs are also extending the day beyond the fan experience.
Spurs Give and the team's coaching staff plan to host a free coaches clinic at Frost Bank Center before the scrimmage, featuring Johnson and members of the Spurs coaching staff.
Local youth and basketball coaches who participate will have the opportunity to hear about player development, team culture and game strategy before staying to watch the scrimmage. Registration information for the clinic is expected to be announced separately.
The program fits within the broader community role Spurs Sports & Entertainment has maintained across South Texas. In addition to the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, the organization owns and operates the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League and San Antonio FC of the USL, serves as controlling member of LOVB Austin and manages venues including Frost Bank Center, The Rock at La Cantera, Toyota Field and Ricos STAR Soccer Complex.
What Spurs Fans Need to Know Before Oct. 4
For families hoping to attend the free Spurs scrimmage in San Antonio, the biggest date to remember is Sept. 20. Entering the Official Spurs Fan Club does not automatically guarantee admission; fans must enter the ticket drawing, and selected fans will need to claim their tickets quickly after being notified.
Those who make it inside Frost Bank Center will get an early look at a Spurs team returning from an NBA Finals appearance, plus free parking, discounted food and merchandise and a community fundraiser benefiting Spurs Give.
In a city where the start of Spurs season has long felt like part of the fall calendar, Oct. 4 offers San Antonio fans an early reason to pull the Silver & Black back out of the closet.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more San Antonio Spurs news, local events and community updates as the 2026-27 NBA season gets underway.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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