Golden 1 Center in Sacramento: Best Seats, Tips and More

🔍 Need a custom plan for your Kings game or concert night?
Use our Gameday Guides tool for personalized tips on seating, food, and nearby attractions at Golden 1 Center.

Best Seats At The Golden 1 Center

Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento is one of the NBA’s newer arenas (opened 2016) and honestly one of the best—steep upper deck that keeps you close to the action, legitimately good farm-to-fork food, and a surrounding entertainment district (DOCO) that doesn’t feel forced. The Kings have turned into a fun team to watch, and the arena reflects Sacramento’s energy: laid-back but passionate, with zero pretension.​

Lower Bowl Sideline (Sections 106 to 108, 119 to 121): The sweet spot for Kings games. Sections 107to 108 on the visitor’s bench side and 119-120 on the Kings bench side put you center court with excellent sightlines. Rows 10-20 are ideal—close enough to hear the game but elevated enough to see plays develop.​

What to know: Rows 1-3 in these sections are courtside with access to the Lexus Lounge (all-inclusive food and drinks, VIP entrance, in-seat service). Standard lower bowl seats in rows 10 through 20 run $80 to 150 bucks depending on opponent. The first few rows feel amazing for the Instagram photo, but you’re watching necks—go mid-section for actual basketball viewing.​

Lower Bowl Corners (Sections 104 to 106, 121-123):: Best value in the lower bowl. Sections 105 and 122 specifically—you’re close to one basket, angled to see both ends, and paying 30-40% less than center court. Rows 12-20 are the move; you’re not craning and the sight lines work perfectly.​

I sat row 15 of Section 105 for a playoff game and had zero complaints—close enough to feel the energy, high enough to see everything unfold.

Upper Deck Center (Sections 204-207, 216-219): Here’s the thing about Golden 1 Center: the upper deck is STEEP. That sounds bad, but it’s actually amazing—you’re way closer to the court than a typical NBA upper deck. Sections 205-207 (Kings side) or 216-218 (visitor side) in rows 1-10 give you broadcast-camera views where you can see every play, every rotation, every screen.​

Tickets here run $25-50 depending on the game. For a Tuesday night game against a bad team, you can get in for under $30 and have a legitimately great time. Keep in mind that prices can fluctuate depending when i updated this.​

Tradeoff: No cup holders because the steepness puts the seat in front of you at your feet. It’s a minor annoyance, but the proximity to the court is worth it. Just hold your beer or set it on the floor.​

Areas to Avoid

Behind the basket lower bowl (Sections 101-103, 124-126): You’re paying lower bowl prices for the worst angle. Just go upper deck center for half the cost and better overall views.​

Upper corners (Sections 201-204, 220-223): Cheap but far, especially behind the basket. Fine if you just want to be in the building, but you’re squinting.

Premium Seating Options

At the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, you can enjoy a variety of premium club levels, each offering unique amenities and experiences. Here are some of the premium club levels with brief descriptions

Courtside Seats (Rows 1-3 Lower Bowl): The ultimate Kings experience: three rows of courtside seats on the floor with access to the Lexus Lounge, an all-inclusive event-level club with gourmet dining, premium bar, HDTVs, and VIP restrooms. You get in-seat service, VIP entrance, larger padded seats, and you’re close enough to hear players talk trash.
​

What it costs: $500-$5,000 per seat depending on opponent. Full-season memberships are the primary access point, but single-game resale is available for big matchups.
​

Who it’s for: Corporate clients, die-hards with disposable income, or someone celebrating a major occasion. The Lexus Lounge alone is worth it if you care about premium food and drinks—it’s truly all-inclusive and high quality.
​

Club Seats (100 Level Rows 4-10, Select Sections): Club-level seating in the lower bowl gives you access to two of three premium lounges: Assembly Lounge and Rush Lounge. You get upscale lounge access, private bars, upgraded concessions, and VIP restrooms. No Lexus Lounge access—that’s courtside only.​

Available as full-season or partial-season memberships. Expect $100-200 per seat per game. Good middle ground if you want premium perks without going full courtside.

Luxury Suites (34 Total): 34 luxury suites surround the arena with options for 12-20 guests. Suites include VIP parking, separate entrance, climate-controlled private space, in-suite catering available for purchase, premium seating, HDTVs, and access to three exclusive clubs.

Golden 1 Center Seating Chart

The Golden 1 Center, with a seating capacity of approximately 17,600 for basketball games and differs from there depending on the event. They offer a variety of seating options to accommodate different preferences and budgets. You can explore the seating chart here.

Tickets To Sacramento Kings Games

There are several ways to secure tickets to Sacramento Kings games and events at the Golden 1 Center:

1. Get Tickets for Sacramento Kings games here! You can get tickets for Kings games or just about any event that comes to the G1C through Vivid Seats.
2. Official Team Website: Visit the official website of the Sacramento Kings to purchase tickets directly from the team. This is often the most reliable source for tickets.
3. Box Office: Purchase tickets in person at the Golden 1 Center’s box office. This option allows you to buy tickets directly from the venue.
4. Season Tickets: Consider becoming a season ticket holder for the Sacramento Kings. Season tickets provide you with guaranteed seats for all home games and often come with exclusive benefits and discounts.
5. NBA Ticket Exchange: The NBA has an official resale platform, where you can purchase tickets from other fans in a secure environment.

When purchasing tickets, make sure to verify the authenticity of the source to avoid any potential scams. Always buy from trusted sources to ensure a smooth and secure ticket-buying experience.

Golden 1 Center Bag Policy

Bags must be 8″ x 6″ x 1″ or smaller—that’s TINY. Medical, ADA, and parental bags allowed with additional screening. Honestly, just don’t bring a bag if you can avoid it. Security moves way faster and you won’t deal with the hassle

Additional Arena Policies

No Re-Entry, Period: Once you leave Golden 1 Center, you’re done—no re-entry under any circumstances. Plan accordingly. If you forget something in your car or need to step out, your ticket is toast

Completely Smoke-Free (Including Vapes): Smoking and vaping are prohibited inside and outside the arena, including e-cigarettes and any tobacco products. If you need to smoke, you’ll have to walk blocks away—and remember, no re-entry.

Check the arena guide for full list of policies.

Golden 1 Center Insider Tips & Hacks

Golden 1 Center is easy to navigate and well-run, but there are still plenty of ways to upgrade your experience if you know the tricks—from hitting the farm-to-fork food vendors that blow away typical arena fare to finding the best budget seats in the NBA thanks to that insanely steep upper deck. Sacramento’s vibe is chill and welcoming, so the arena reflects that—no pretension, just good basketball, solid food, and a crowd that’s genuinely hyped to be there.

This Arena Food Is Actually Good: Golden 1 Center sources 90% of ingredients from within 150 miles of the arena, and it shows. This isn’t generic arena slop—Centro (Section 101) makes handmade corn tortillas on the concourse for their street tacos, Paragary’s (Sections 118, 203) does wood-fired pizza, and Petra Greek (Section 210) has fresh lamb and beef gyros cooked on vertical rotisseries. Al​so find the Bao Buns and the L Street Dog.

Skip the generic hot dog stands and hit the local spots. My go-to is Centro for tacos or Cafe Bernardo (Sections 115, 216) for a smashburger and garlic fries . Vegan and gluten-free options are everywhere too.​

DOCO Pregame Is the Move: Downtown Commons (DOCO) is the entertainment district surrounding Golden 1 Center, and it’s where you want to be before tip-off. Tons of bars and restaurants within a 2-minute walk—way better than eating inside the arena if you’ve got time.​

Popular spots: Punch Bowl Social (games + food + drinks), LowBrau (beer garden, sausages), The Park Ultra Lounge, or any of the spots along J Street. Grab food and drinks, soak up the pregame energy, then walk into the arena

Student Rush & Group Discounts: Check the Kings website for student rush deals on select games—heavily discounted upper deck tickets released day-of. Also watch for group discount nights if you’re rolling with 10+ people.

​Cheap Ticket Hack: Weeknight Games: Kings tickets are dynamic pricing, so weeknight games against low-tier teams are dirt cheap. Upper deck center seats can drop to $20-30, and lower bowl corners can be had for $50-70 if you wait until 24-48 hours before tip. If you just want to experience the arena and see the team, this is the play

Arena Tour: Golden 1 Center offers public tours when there’s no event. You get behind-the-scenes access to locker rooms, suites, the court, and club spaces. It’s cool if you’re an arena nerd or want to see the farm-to-fork kitchen operation. Book ahead at golden1center.com.​

Local Beer Selection Is Excellent: Golden 1 Center features tons of Northern California breweries: Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas, Russian River, Device Brewing, New Glory . Skip the Bud Light and grab a local IPA or lager—pricing is the same but the quality is way better .

“Light the Beam” Tradition: When the Kings win at home, they light a purple beam into the sky from the arena roof that’s visible across downtown Sacramento . It’s become a huge fan tradition—stick around after a win to see it, and grab a “Light the Beam” churro from Centro while you’re at it .

Golden 1 Center Parking

Golden 1 Center sits in the Downtown Commons (DOCO), and parking is straightforward if you know the rules: only the DOCO West Garage (325 L Street at 3rd & L) is open for Kings games and events. The other garages—Central, Sawyer, and East—are reserved for retail and restaurant parking on event nights.​

DOCO West Garage pricing: $6/hour, $32 daily max, but event pricing is typically a flat rate that starts 2 hours before tip-off. Pre-purchase parking online through the arena website or parking apps like ParkWhiz or SpotHero to save money and guarantee a spot—day-of pricing is higher. The garage has a 6’9″ clearance, so larger vehicles won’t fit.​

Alternative parking: City-owned garages downtown offer event parking for $25-40 depending on location and demand. Park at garages on 7th Street, 10th Street, or near the Capitol and walk 5-10 minutes to the arena. You’ll save a few bucks and often beat the postgame exit traffic.​

Street parking: Metered spots exist around downtown Sacramento, but availability is limited on event nights and meters run until 8pm or later in most zones. Not worth the hassle unless you arrive 2+ hours early.

Public Transportation

Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) makes getting to Golden 1 Center ridiculously easy—the light rail drops you literally a block from the arena.​

Light Rail: Both the Blue Line and Gold Line stop at 8th & K Station, which is a 5-minute walk to Golden 1 Center. Trains run frequently during events, and SacRT often adds extra service for Kings games and big concerts. Standard fare is around $2.75 one-way.​

This is legitimately the best public transit setup for an NBA arena—no transfers, no confusion, just hop on the light rail and walk a block. I’ve used it multiple times and it beats driving every time.

Bus: Multiple SacRT bus routes serve downtown Sacramento with stops near the arena, including routes 30, 38, 51, 62. The closest bus stops are at L Street & 5th Street (2-minute walk to the arena). Buses run until around 11:30pm on most routes, so you’re covered for postgame.​

Bottom line: Take light rail if you’re anywhere on the Blue or Gold Line. Drive and pre-book DOCO West Garage if you’re coming from the suburbs or have a group. Rideshare if you’re downtown and don’t want to deal with parking. Skip street parking—it’s not worth the headache.

Rideshare: Honestly the easiest move if you’re staying downtown or within a few miles. Uber/Lyft have designated drop-off and pickup zones around the arena. Drop-off is smooth; pickup postgame can be chaotic, so walk a few blocks away to request your ride and skip the surge pricing and wait times

Hotels Near The Golden 1 Center

Downtown Sacramento is your best bet if you’re going to a Kings game or event—you’re walking distance to the arena, surrounded by DOCO restaurants and bars, and close to light rail if you want to explore Midtown or East Sacramento. Midtown (around J, K, and L Streets east of downtown) is the trendy neighborhood with breweries, coffee shops, and local dining—about a 15-minute walk or quick light rail ride to Golden 1 Center. Old Sacramento is touristy but charming if you want waterfront views and history, though it’s a bit further from the arena.​

Kimpton Sawyer Hotel: Literally inside DOCO, with a rooftop pool overlooking Golden 1 Center. You’re 2 minutes from the arena entrance, surrounded by bars and restaurants, and the hotel itself is stylish with a great rooftop bar (Revival). This is the ultimate convenience play if you want to walk out of your room and be in the action immediately. Rooms run $150-280 depending on the event.​

Hyatt Centric Downtown Sacramento: Modern boutique-style hotel about a 5-minute walk from Golden 1 Center. Two on-site restaurants, rooftop bar, 24-hour gym, and Art Deco-inspired design. Great location without being directly in the DOCO chaos—you’re close but not dealing with gameday noise. Expect $130-220/night.​

Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena: Solid mid-range chain hotel about a 5-minute walk to the arena with seasonal outdoor pool, on-site restaurant, and 24-hour fitness center. This is your best value play if you want walkability without paying Kimpton prices. Rooms typically run $100-160.​

Sheraton Grand Sacramento: Classic full-service hotel about a 10-minute walk from Golden 1 Center with two restaurants, outdoor pool, gym, and valet parking. Good for groups or families who want space and amenities without being right on top of the arena. Pricing runs $120-200.​

Budget-Friendly Option That’s Safe & Close

Vagabond Inn Executive Old Town: Budget hotel in Old Sacramento about a 10-minute walk from Golden 1 Center. Clean, safe, no-frills accommodations with free parking and breakfast included. You’re near the waterfront and tourist area, but still walkable to the arena. Rooms run $70-110, making it the best budget option that’s actually downtown.​

If you’re willing to take light rail, look for Airbnbs or budget hotels along the Gold Line near 16th Street or 23rd Street stations in Midtown—you’ll save money, be in a cooler neighborhood with better local dining, and it’s a 10-minute light rail ride straight to the arena.​

My Advice: Stay at Kimpton Sawyer if you want the full DOCO experience and don’t mind paying for convenience. Stay at Holiday Inn or Hyatt Centric if you want walkability at a better price. Stay at Vagabond Inn if you’re on a budget and want to be downtown. Stay in Midtown along light rail if you want local Sacramento vibes and easy transit access to games.

Bars/Restaurants Near The Golden 1 Center

DOCO (Downtown Commons) is ground zero for pregame and postgame action—bars, restaurants, and entertainment literally wrapped around the arena. You’re talking a 2-minute walk from any DOCO spot to your seat. Midtown (15th-24th Streets along J, K, and L) is where locals actually hang out: breweries, gastropubs, and farm-to-fork spots with way better vibes than chains. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk or quick light rail ride to the arena. R Street Corridor (around 15th and R) is the hip warehouse district with craft breweries and upscale dining—perfect if you want a proper dinner before an evening game.​

Where to Eat & Drink

Tom’s Watch Bar: Sports bar paradise with 50+ TVs, solid American food, and a massive beer and cocktail selection. This is the classic pregame move—catch earlier games, grab wings and a burger, then walk 90 seconds to Golden 1 Center. Gets packed before Kings games, so show up early.​

Darling Aviary: Trendy bar/restaurant with a rooftop terrace, live music, and a vibrant atmosphere. Great cocktails, burgers, curly fries, and a fun crowd. More nightlife energy than sports bar—go here if you want pregame drinks with a scene rather than just TVs and wings.​

Iron Horse Tavern: Gastropub with creative American food, excellent brunch, and a killer beer selection. The ahi tuna poke nachos and prime rib sandwich are money. About a 10-minute walk from the arena, so this is your move if you want a sit-down dinner before an evening game. Popular with locals, great atmosphere.​

The Golden Bear: Laid-back Midtown bar with scratch-made food, craft beer, stiff cocktails, and weekly trivia nights. This is where Sacramento locals actually go—no tourists, no corporate feel, just solid food and drinks in a welcoming space. About 15 minutes on foot or 10 minutes on light rail to the arena.

Yard House: Chain sports bar with 100+ beers on tap, huge menu, and reliable quality. It’s corporate, but it works for big groups who can’t agree on what to eat and want something close to the arena. Open late if you want postgame food and drinks. I always like hitting this place, i know its a chain but its solid.

Frog & Slim: Upscale New American spot with a killer wine list, craft cocktails, and seasonal farm-to-fork menu. This is where you go if you’re making a night of it—proper dinner with your significant other or friends before a 7:30pm Kings game. Reservations recommended. Expect $50-100 per person but the food and vibe are worth it.​

Fieldwork Brewing Company: Local craft brewery in Midtown with an ever-changing tap list and pizza. Chill, laid-back atmosphere, great beer selection, and easy light rail access to the arena. Perfect if you want local Sacramento flavor over generic sports bar chains.

Things To Do In Sacramento

Sacramento, the capital of California, offers a variety of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy. Here are some of the best things to do in Sacramento:

1. California State Capitol: Explore the California State Capitol building and its beautiful surrounding grounds. You can take guided tours to learn about the state’s history and government.
2. Old Sacramento State Historic Park: Step back in time by visiting Old Sacramento, with its well-preserved historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and various museums, including the California State Railroad Museum.
3. Crocker Art Museum: Discover an extensive collection of European, Asian, and American art at the Crocker Art Museum, one of the oldest art museums in the West.
4. Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park: Learn about California’s early history by touring Sutter’s Fort, a reconstructed 19th-century adobe fort and trading post.
5. American River Bike Trail: Rent a bike and explore the scenic American River Bike Trail, which winds along the American River and offers beautiful views of nature and the riverbanks.
6. Sacramento Zoo: Enjoy a day at the Sacramento Zoo, home to a variety of animals from around the world, including exotic species and native wildlife.
7. Midtown Sacramento: Stroll through the vibrant and eclectic Midtown district, known for its art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and nightlife.
8. California Automobile Museum: Car enthusiasts will appreciate the California Automobile Museum, which features a diverse collection of vintage and classic automobiles.
9. Delta King Riverboat: Take a step back in time by dining or staying on the Delta King, a historic riverboat on the Sacramento River.
10. The California Museum: Visit The California Museum to learn more about the state’s history, art, and culture through various exhibits and collections.

Golden 1 Center delivers one of the best NBA arena experiences in the league—steep upper deck that keeps you close to the action, legitimately good farm-to-fork food, and a downtown location that actually works for pregame and postgame plans. Whether you’re sitting courtside or in the upper deck for $30, the sightlines are solid, the food is better than it should be, and DOCO gives you plenty of options to make it a full night out.

Here are some other guides in the region:

Levis Stadium

Chase Center In SF

Oracle Park In SF

SoFI Stadium in L.A

Written by Brad Richards, Founder of Gameday Guides. This guide includes insights from personal visits as well as updated info from team sources, fan forums, and stadium policies. We aim to help you plan with confidence — enjoy your gameday.