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, box office hours, parking, the bag policy, and the seating chart.
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; the box office is open Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm (and from noon on event days); and bags are limited to small clutches and wallets no larger than 8″x6″x1″ for entry, with no clear-bag exception.
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 Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 5pm; the office is closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday except on event days, when it opens at noon or one hour before doors, whichever comes first.
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 — including options within a few blocks such as City Hall Garage, Capitol Garage, and the 555 Parking Garage — 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, real-time rates, and closures, use the official directions and parking page or the SacPark reservation site.
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, ADA, and parental bags are allowed as an exception but require additional X-ray screening. Rules can be updated for specific concerts or high-security events, so double-check the official security operations page before you go.
Prohibited Items
Beyond oversized bags, Golden 1 Center’s prohibited items list includes weapons of any kind, vape pens and cigarettes, illegal substances, lighters and aerosol cans, laptops, drones, fireworks, laser pointers, noisemakers, balloons, projectiles, outside food and beverages, and professional audio or video recording equipment. Personal cell phones and point-and-shoot cameras are generally fine.
Policies can vary slightly by event promoter, so for touring concerts or wrestling and MMA cards, it’s worth checking the specific event listing on Ticketmaster or the venue’s own prohibited items page in case additional restrictions apply.
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. Club seats and courtside seating offer the most upscale experience, with courtside access typically including club entry and all-inclusive food and beverage.
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. As a rule of thumb, the first 10-20 rows of the lower bowl offer the best sightlines for games, while for concerts any floor seat delivers a strong view. Ticket marketplaces like Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show event-specific interactive seating charts once an on-sale is live.
ADA & Accessible Seating
Golden 1 Center offers designated wheelchair-accessible and limited-mobility seating throughout the bowl, generally with an adjoining companion seat. Accessible parking is also available in nearby SacPark garages for guests with a valid placard. To request ASL interpreters, audio description services, or other accommodations ahead of a specific event, contact the arena’s ADA services team in advance rather than waiting until game day.
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 environmental focus, paired with the farm-to-fork concessions program and the open-air hangar doors, is a big part of why the arena earned LEED Platinum certification and is regularly cited as one of the greenest venues in professional sports.
Golden 1 Center Sacramento FAQs
How many seats does Golden 1 Center have?
Golden 1 Center seats 17,608 for Sacramento Kings basketball games. Capacity expands to as many as 19,000 for concerts when floor seating is added in front of the stage.
Where do I buy Golden 1 Center tickets?
Kings games and most Golden 1 Center events are sold through Kings.com, the official Golden1Center.com site, and Ticketmaster, the arena’s exclusive ticketing partner. Prices vary by event, seat location, and demand.
Can I bring a bag into Golden 1 Center?
Only small bags, clutches, or wallets no larger than 8″ x 6″ x 1″ are allowed. There is no clear-bag exception, no bag check service, and backpacks, purses, and camera bags must be left in your car.
Where should I park for Golden 1 Center?
Parking is handled through the city’s SacPark system in garages surrounding the arena, such as City Hall Garage, Capitol Garage, and the 555 Parking Garage. Garages open two hours before the event, and pre-purchasing a pass online is usually cheaper and faster than paying on arrival.
What time does the Golden 1 Center box office open?
The box office at 500 David J Stern Walk is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 5pm, closed Saturday through Monday except on event days, when it opens at noon or one hour before doors, whichever is earlier.
Is there a light rail stop near Golden 1 Center?
Yes. 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, making it easy to skip parking altogether.
Does Golden 1 Center have accessible seating?
Yes. Wheelchair-accessible and limited-mobility seating with companion seats is available throughout the bowl, and guests can contact the arena’s ADA services team in advance to arrange interpreters or other accommodations.
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