Golden 1 Center: Tickets, Parking, Bag Policy & Seating Guide

Golden 1 Center opened on September 30, 2016, in the heart of downtown Sacramento, California, replacing the aging ARCO Arena as the home of the Sacramento Kings. Built on the site of the former Downtown Plaza shopping center, the $558.2 million arena anchors the larger Downtown Commons mixed-use development and was designed by AECOM with Mark Dziewulski Architect, with Turner Construction managing the build after an October 2014 groundbreaking.

The arena quickly earned a reputation as one of the NBA’s most innovative venues, achieving LEED Platinum certification and drawing attention for its blend of technology, sustainability, and open-air design. Beyond Kings basketball, it hosts concerts, conventions, wrestling, MMA, and college sports. Whether you’re headed to a game or a show, here’s everything you need to know: tickets, parking, the bag policy, seating, and box office hours.

Quick Answer

Golden 1 Center is the Sacramento Kings’ downtown arena, seating 17,608 for basketball and up to 19,000 for concerts. Tickets are sold through Kings.com, Golden1Center.com, and Ticketmaster; parking is handled through the city’s SacPark system in garages near the arena; and bags are limited to small clutches and wallets no larger than 8″x6″x1″ for entry.

The Arena Experience

Golden 1 Center was built as an indoor-outdoor venue, with massive glass hangar doors on its exterior that can open to let Sacramento’s Delta breeze flow through the concourse, weather permitting. The arena also features an 84-foot videoboard, one of the largest scoreboard displays in the NBA at the time it debuted, along with 34 luxury suites and 48 loft-style suites overlooking the court.

Concessions lean into the region’s identity, with a farm-to-fork food program that sources much of its menu from Northern California growers and producers, tying the venue to the city’s agricultural heritage.

Tickets & Ticket Prices

Sacramento Kings single-game tickets, along with concerts and other Golden 1 Center events, are sold through Kings.com, the venue’s official site, and Ticketmaster (the arena’s exclusive ticketing partner). Prices vary widely by opponent, night of the week, and how far in advance you buy, with lower-bowl and suite seating commanding the highest premiums and upper-level 200-section seats offering the most affordable entry point.

For concerts and family shows, pricing tiers typically follow standard arena-seating logic: floor and lower-bowl seats cost the most, with upper-deck seating priced lower. Because prices fluctuate by event and demand, check the official Golden 1 Center website or Kings.com for the current on-sale schedule and real-time pricing before you buy.

Box Office & Hours

The Golden 1 Center box office is located at 500 David J Stern Walk in Sacramento, near the 7th and K Street Plaza entrance, and can be reached at (916) 701-5401. Regular window hours run limited midweek afternoons, with extended hours on event days, typically opening at noon when a game or show is scheduled.

The box office and all in-arena purchases are cashless, accepting Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay. Because hours can shift around holidays and event schedules, confirm current hours on the official box office page before making a trip downtown.

Parking & Getting There

Golden 1 Center sits in the middle of downtown Sacramento, and parking is managed through SacPark, the city’s official parking system, rather than a single arena-owned lot. Multiple city garages surround the venue, and pre-purchasing a pass online is generally cheaper and faster than paying at the gate. Garages open two hours before tipoff or showtime, and spaces are first-come, first-served rather than assigned.

If you’d rather skip parking altogether, SacRT light rail has multiple stations within a block or two of the arena, and Roseville Transit runs a game-day express bus on Kings home game nights. A complimentary bike valet also operates near the arena entrance before major events. For current garage locations, rates, and closures, use the official directions and parking page.

Bag Policy & Security

Golden 1 Center enforces a strict bag policy: bags may not exceed 8″ x 6″ x 1″, which effectively limits guests to small clutches and wallets. There is no clear-bag exception for larger bags at Golden 1 Center.

Backpacks, duffel bags, large purses, laptop bags, and camera bags are not permitted inside, and there is no bag check service, so oversized bags must be returned to your car. All bags that meet the size limit still go through screening at entry, and confiscated items are not returned, so it’s worth leaving anything questionable at home or in the car. Medical and parental bags are allowed as an exception but require additional X-ray screening. Rules can be updated for specific concerts or events, so double-check the official security operations page before you go.

Seating Chart & Capacity

For Kings basketball, Golden 1 Center holds 17,608 fans across a lower bowl, a suite level with 34 luxury suites and 48 loft-style suites, and an upper 200-level bowl. The upper deck sits steeper than most NBA arenas, which shortens the distance from the top row to the court compared to older venues.

For concerts, capacity expands to as much as 19,000 by adding floor seating in front of the stage; the exact layout and section map vary by performance, since some sections are reconfigured or removed depending on the show. Ticket marketplaces like Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show event-specific interactive seating charts once an on-sale is live.

A Sustainable Downtown Anchor

Beyond basketball, Golden 1 Center was engineered as a sustainability showcase, powered in part by a rooftop solar array and supported by an additional solar field operated nearby by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. That combination helped it become the first LEED Platinum-certified professional sports arena when it opened in 2016.

Positioned on the former Downtown Plaza site, the arena served as the centerpiece of a broader push to revitalize downtown Sacramento, drawing concerts, conventions, and other major events to the area alongside Kings games.

golden 1 center arena guide FAQs

When did Golden 1 Center open?

Golden 1 Center opened on September 30, 2016, replacing ARCO Arena as the home of the Sacramento Kings.

What is the seating capacity of Golden 1 Center?

The arena holds about 17,608 fans for Sacramento Kings basketball games and can expand to roughly 19,000 for concerts.

Where do I buy Golden 1 Center tickets?

Tickets are sold through Kings.com for Sacramento Kings games and through the official Golden1Center.com site or Ticketmaster for concerts and other events.

What is the bag policy at Golden 1 Center?

Bags are limited to small clutches and wallets no larger than 8″ x 6″ x 1″. Backpacks, large purses, and camera bags are not allowed, and there’s no bag check for oversized items.

Where do I park for Golden 1 Center events?

Parking is managed through the city’s SacPark system in downtown garages surrounding the arena. Garages open two hours before the event, and pre-purchasing online is typically cheaper than paying at the gate. Light rail stations are also within walking distance.

What are the box office hours at Golden 1 Center?

The box office, located at 500 David J Stern Walk, keeps limited midweek afternoon hours and opens earlier on event days. Check the official Golden 1 Center box office page for current hours, since they can shift around holidays.

What makes Golden 1 Center unique among NBA arenas?

It’s known for its six-story, 150-foot-wide retractable hangar doors that open the arena to the outdoors, plus LEED Platinum sustainability certification and a farm-to-fork food program.

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