Golden 1 Center - Sacramento Kings Arena Guide

The Golden 1 Center was built as a replacement facility to the Sleep Train Arena; the arena didn’t officially break ground until October of 2014 and wasn’t finished until September of 2016.

Golden 1 Center reflects Northern California using locally sourced materials from glass to recycled aluminum to precast concrete. Also, Golden 1 Center uses only FSC-certified wood, an international standard of quality and responsible forest management.

The arena uses an array of rooftop solar, with a cost of $2.5 million, that generates up to 1.2 megawatts, supplemented by an 11-megawatt solar field in nearby Rancho Seco. Investing in solar power is part of the Sacramento Kings ownership’s goal to have the entertainment center be the most technologically advanced arena in the country, including being efficient and using renewable energy.

According to a King’s news release, the arena is “the world’s most connected indoor sports and entertainment venue” due to a multi-year deal with Comcast to provide free wi-fi. The arena will be able to handle over 200,000 social media posts every second.

In June of 2015, Sacramento-based Golden 1 Credit Union acquired naming rights for the arena with a cost of $120 million over the next 20 years, with an annual average of $6 million, making it one of the biggest naming rights deals for an NBA arena.

Interior view of Golden 1 Center

Below is a seating plan of Sacramento Kings's Golden 1 Center:

Several popular bars are located within walking distance to the arena, with a few of the favorites being House Kitchen & Bar, Punch Bowl Social Sacramento, WHIRED Wine Bar, and Sauced BBQ & Spirits | Sacramento. Sauced BBQ & Spirits | Sacramento provides authentic, slow-smoked southern BBQ with an extensive craft beer, craft cocktail, and spirits list featuring dozens of large-screen TVs in a family-friendly and lively environment. Suppose you are looking for some BBQ in a city that isn’t known for its BBQ. Sauced BBQ & Spirits | Sacramento is the spot for you.

While several of the bars and pubs in the area offer several food options, a few other food options are a favorite of the locals and are right around the arena that you can stop at before tip-off. Some of the local favorites include House Kitchen & Bar, Yard House, The Pizza Press, Morton’s The Steakhouse, and many others. Since the Kings are growing in popularity in the area, there are several spots near the Golden 1 Center that are sports-themed and will be great places to catch a bite to eat before the game or even watch the game while you eat.

In the future, the Golden 1 Center will be opening behind the scenes tours. On a guided tour, you will have an opportunity to get a look at spaces that the general public has never seen.

Typically, Kings tickets vary on who they are playing on the given night, buy tickets can be found for as low as $15, with an average price of $88. The Golden 1 Center also offers a wide range of premium seating options, including Luxury Suites, Club Levels, Lofts, and Balcony Boxes. The Golden 1 Center has a wide range of tickets scaling all ticket prices, so you will be able to find any seat in the building that caters to your taste.

Since the Golden 1 Center is located near Sacramento’s heart, there are several travel options you can choose from. The most popular transportation methods would include The SacRT (Sacramento Regional Transit District), which operates 60 bus routes and is the sixth busiest light rail system in the U.S. There are also various forms of car services, and thousands of parking spots if you choose to bring your vehicle.

The address for Golden 1 Center is as follows:
• 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814

While traffic during game nights will drive larger crowds than usual down to Sacramento, you should be in the clear of heavy traffic if you leave a few hours before tip-off. If you are coming from surrounding suburbs, you will most likely be coming into the city on a major highway then transitioning into city street driving.

While there are public/paid parking options on any given game night, the Kings recommend that you buy your tickets in advance online. Lots open two hours before tip-off, and if you purchase in advance, you will guarantee your spot whenever you arrive at the arena.

For public transportation, you are most likely looking to be on The SacRT (Sacramento Regional Transit District), which operates 60 bus routes and is the sixth busiest light rail system in the U.S. With several SacRT light rail stations within a few blocks of the arena, wherever you are coming from within the city, you can rely on the public transportation to get you to the arena for a Kings game.

If you are coming from out of state and flying, you will most likely fly into Sacramento International Airport. The drive from the airport to the arena is 9.1 miles and will roughly take 15-30 minutes to reach the arena. The most popular transportation methods to the Golden 1 Center are by shuttle ($10-$15), bus ($2-$4), taxi ($40-$50), or car.