San Antonio’s new major events venue, Tech Port Center + Arena, is poised to open its doors on May 2 with a Smashing Pumpkins concert. The $70 million, 130,000-square-foot facility will become a premier destination for music, arts, sports, business conventions — and now, food, thanks to a new food hall and bar debuting the same day.

In a recent release, Tech Port Provisions said it will feature a variety of local food and drink operators and cuisines. Starting May 2, guests will have access to the following:

• Kuriya (operated by Cherrity Bar)
• La Tienda de Birria (operated by Cherrity Bar)
• The Pantry (operated by Earl Abel's)
• The Big Bib BBQ
• Capo's Pizzeria
• Brevity Coffee

And that’s just the start. Tech Port Provisions will also have a “fast craft” bar, Tech Pour, which will feature beer, wine, and spirits curated to complement Tech Port Center + Arena's event lineup.

Tech Port officials said visitors can expect food hall vendors to reflect San Antonio’s culinary and cultural diversity, and that Tech Port Provisions adds to dining options available to south San Antonians.

Tech Port Center + Arena is located at the Port San Antonio tech-centric business/industrial campus, formerly Kelly Air Force Base, and is designed to accommodate high tech-related industrial collaborative and educational programs in addition to special events and electronic gaming.

The initial food hall vendors bring with them varying degrees of experience. Cherrity Bar was launched by developer David Malley in 2017 across from the Alamodome as a hub for neighborhood entertainment and to support a range of local charities and causes.

Earl Abel’s is a San Antonio staple when it comes to homestyle comfort cooking. Big Bib BBQ is one of Alamo City’s renowned barbecue restaurants. Capo's Pizzeria offers Buffalo, New York-style pizzas and wings at three San Antonio locations.

"We're bringing a higher level of hospitality and care to San Antonio's entertainment scene," said Abdul Qadir Al Ghaziani, Tech Port Center + Arena's food and beverage director.

Having previously worked as operations manager for House of Blues Dallas and Legacy Hall in Plano, Al Ghaziani said he and his staff are excited to serve a wide-ranging clientele and the community.

"This will be an entertainment destination that you will want to return to again and again,” Al Ghaziani said. “Our food and beverage providers will provide an authentic, one-of-a-kind local experience that will leave locals and visitors delighted. We are also excited to contribute to the culinary renaissance happening on the city's South side."

Visitors at the Tech Port Provisions bar can expect to find special twists, depending on the event. For example, Smashing Pumpkins fans may enjoy a themed cocktail called “1979,” inspired by one of the band’s classic songs and to honor the band as the first headlining act inside the 3,200-seat arena.

Brevity Coffee, which has several local drive-thru-only locations around town, will be open 6:30 am to 6:30 pm weekdays at Tech Port Provisions. The aforementioned food hall vendors will be open 10:30 am to 6:30 pm weekdays. On event days, Tech Port Provisions will close at 2:30 pm to the public and reopen to show guests two hours before doors open.

The arena at Port San Antonio is managed by ASM Global, a global company that manages more than 300 arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues worldwide.

ASM Global announced in March that Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch League will host its first live and in-person event with fans on May 6 at Tech Port Arena, featuring a match between the Houston Outlaws and the Dallas Fuel.

“The Battle for Texas is one of the first events to open our new venue with one of the greatest rivalries in esports,” Tech Port Center + Arena General Manager Eric Blockie said. “It is the perfect launch to establish San Antonio as the next great destination for esports fans and gamers. We will welcome all fans with open arms and ensure everyone will have a memorable experience.”