Golden 1 Center Guide
Golden 1 Center is a sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Sacramento, California. Opened in Sept. 2016, the arena has been the home ground of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. The $534.6 million venue was jointly funded by the team and the city of Sacramento.
Despite hosting one of the most prominent members of the NBA, Golden 1 Center is one of the smallest stadiums in the league, featuring around 17,500 seats. It bears the name of the credit union Golden 1 under a 20-year naming-rights contract worth $120 million.
In addition to basketball games, this indoor arena also hosts other sporting events, including wrestling matches, MMA fights, bull riding competitions, and more. It has also hosted many concerts and the winter 2020 legislative session of the California State Legislature.
Golden 1 Center doesn’t feature a sportsbook. The efforts to legalize sports betting fell through on the Nov. 2022 ballot, so retail sportsbooks in California aren’t a reality yet. In the meantime, we can take a look at other prominent characteristics of Golden 1 Center.
About Golden 1 Center
Golden 1 Center in Sacramento is conveniently located in the heart of Sacramento, at 500 David J. Stern Walk. It’s part of the Downtown Commons (DoCo) entertainment and business district, which features a hotel, multiple restaurants, and other amenities.
The arena is easily accessible on foot, by bike, by car, or by public transportation. Visitors can arrive by taxi, train, or bus while taking advantage of the nearby train and bus stations.
Golden 1 Center History
The team’s previous owners proposed the first plans to build the arena for Sacramento Kings in 2012. However, before the Maloof family could realize any of these plans, it sold the majority of its stake in Sacramento Kings to Vivek Ranadivé and his partners.
The new owners decided to build a home for the team by 2016. On May 20, 2014, the Sacramento City Council approved public financing of the project. The $507 million venue was to be financed in almost equal measure by the Kings and the City of Sacramento.
Turner Construction was in charge of the project, and construction broke ground on Oct. 29, 2014. The arena finally opened on Sept. 30, 2016, costing a total of $558.2 million to build.
The venue’s main entrance is located on the street named after the former NBA Commissioner David Stern, one of the people most creditable for keeping the Kings in the city.
Golden 1 Center Capacity and Features
The standard Golden 1 Center capacity is 17,608 seats for basketball games, but it can be expanded to 19,000 seats for concerts and other events. In addition to regular seating, the arena also features premium suites, lofts, and clubs. You can check out the Golden 1 Center seating chart on the venue’s official website.
Despite being one of the smaller NBA arenas by seat count, Golden 1 Center stands out in other categories. When it was opened in 2016, it was the first indoor arena of its kind in the US and the first arena to be 100% powered by solar power.
In 2016, Golden 1 Center became the first professional sports venue to receive LEED Platinum certification, a hallmark of sustainable energy. On top of that, the arena features the largest 4K ultra HD board in the league, spanning 84 feet.
Sports Betting at Golden 1 Center
Golden 1 Center doesn’t offer sports betting at the moment, as this gambling activity remains illegal in California. The efforts to pass Proposition 26 and Proposition 27 on the Nov. 2022 ballot fell through, so a change in regulations may be a long time coming.
Even if Proposition 26 had passed the ballot, it’d only have brought sports betting to racetracks and tribal casinos in the state. If and when sports venues in California get permission to host sportsbooks remains to be seen.
Betts Offered at Golden 1 Center
If Golden 1 Center starts operating a retail sportsbook in the future, it’ll likely cover similar types of bets and markets as the sportsbooks in the surrounding states do. Here are some of the types of bets we can expect the book to offer:
- Points spreads
- Totals
- Moneylines
- Props
- Parlays
- Live betting
Sacramento Kings Stadium Partnerships
Golden 1 Center arena doesn’t currently have any casino and sportsbook partnerships.
Golden 1 Center Rewards
Golden 1 Center has a designated VIP club called Row One Club. Club members can take advantage of exclusive benefits, such as courtside seats in the first row, VIP parking, premium access to concert tickets, all-inclusive food and drinks at Row One Club, and more.
The club has limited capacity, so potential new members must make a deposit and join the waitlist. You can find more information about this on the Sacramento Kings’ official website under Row One Club.
Golden 1 Center Parking
Visitors to Golden 1 Center can book street parking and parking spots at nearby garages via the SacPark website. However, parking service is on a first-come, first-served basis, so guests can’t reserve specific spots or floors. Pre-purchased parking passes are valid from two hours before the event starts to two hours after it finishes.
Nearby garages also offer bike parking, and the arena is easily accessible on foot. Visitors can also use public transportation such as light rail and bus, as there are several stations near the arena. For guests with special needs and disabilities, Golden 1 Center enables an accessible drop-off point.
Accommodations Near Golden 1 Center
Being situated in downtown Sacramento, Golden 1 Center is surrounded by multiple hotels located within walking distance. Here are the closest ones:
- Hyatt Centric Downtown Sacramento: 1122 7th St, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Kimpton Sawyer Hotel: 500 J St, Sacramento, CA 9581
- The Exchange Sacramento, Curio Collection by Hilton: 1006 4th St, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown: 300 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814
- The Citizen Hotel, Autograph Collection: 926 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Golden 1 Center Client Services
Golden 1 Center visitors can get assistance at the Guest Services Stations. The stations are located at Section 109 on the Plaza Level and Section 213 on the Bridge Level. Alternatively, guests can ask event staff members for help.
Golden 1 Center Online Sportsbook
At the time being, legal sports betting apps in California still aren’t a reality. Even if online betting does get legalized, sports venues like Golden 1 Center likely won’t be allowed to operate gambling websites.
Golden 1 Center FAQ
Golden 1 Center is located in the center of Sacramento, around 87 miles northeast of San Francisco. Its full address is 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814.
The venue’s central location makes it easily accessible by car, bike, or on foot. Visitors can also arrive by train, bus, or taxi.
No, it isn’t. The arena opens its doors 1.5 hours before Sacramento Kings games start and one hour in advance for other events.
Visitors can buy tickets at the box office from Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The box office is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. However, if there’s an event on these days, it’ll be open from 12 p.m. until an hour after the event begins.
Golden 1 Center features 15 restaurants located at the Plaza Level and the Bridge level. The arena prides itself on its farm-to-fork principle, with its restaurants sourcing 90% of their ingredients from local farms.
There’s no minimum age for Golden 1 Center visitors. However, parents need to buy tickets for children older than 24 months.
No, it doesn’t. The venue can’t offer an online sportsbook because online sports betting hasn’t been legalized in California.
The most recent attempt at doing so was the Nov. 2022 ballot. However, Proposition 27, which would make mobile betting a reality, fell through. Therefore, legal retail and online sports betting aren’t legal yet in the Golden State.
Golden 1 Center doesn’t currently offer sports betting services, as this gambling activity is illegal in the Golden State.
No, you can’t. Golden 1 Center doesn’t facilitate betting on horses.
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