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Best Seats At The Golden 1 Center
In 2013 the Sacramento Kings had been sold to a group that planned to move them to Seattle. The city fought, a new owner stepped in, the NBA sided with Sacramento, and the price of staying was a new downtown arena. Golden 1 Center is the result, and Sacramento treats it that way. It opened in 2016 on the bones of a dead downtown mall, with a bowl sunk below street level and five glass hangar doors that fold open to let the Delta breeze roll through the concourse. After every Kings win, a purple laser fires into the night sky from the roof above those doors, and you can see it from the freeway.
The honest reality is that the Kings have spent most of the last few seasons rebuilding, and some weeknight crowds are thinner than the building deserves. That’s good news if you’re buying. The arena is small, the lower bowl is huge, and the view from almost anywhere is closer to the floor than you’d expect. Here’s how to pick your seat.
Seating Overview at Golden 1 Center
The bowl is sunk into the ground, so you walk in at street level and head down to the lower bowl, which holds roughly 10,000 of the arena’s 17,608 seats. Both benches sit on the same sideline: the Kings in front of Section 108 and the visitors in front of Section 106, with true center court at 107 and 120. The upper level, the 200s, wraps only three sides. The fourth side is the “Bridge,” the upper concourse that runs past the hangar doors, which is why the level is called the Bridge Level.
Between the two bowls sit the Lofts (L sections) and Suites (S sections). That keeps the upper deck from being pushed too far back, and the 200s are steep enough that the court stays in view from the back rows.
Best Non-Premium Seats
Lower sideline, the rows just behind the clubs in 106–108 and 119–121. The club rows cover the front of these sections. The first public rows behind them are the best non-premium seats in the building. They cost more than anything else in the lower bowl, and the 119–121 side is where you’ll want to sit if you’d like to look across at both benches.
Lower sideline flanks, 105 and 109, 118 and 122. You get almost the same angle as center court, often for noticeably less. Their outer edges start to bend toward the corners, so check the seat numbers before you buy.
Lower corners, 103–104, 110–111, 116–117 and 123–124, low rows. You’re close to the floor with a diagonal view that shows the spacing of both halfcourt sets well. The tradeoff is that when the action is at the far basket, you’re watching the video board more than the court.
Best Value Seats
Front rows of the upper sideline, 204–206 and 217–219. The upper bowl is steep, so rows A through F here feel stacked right on top of the court, and you see the whole floor without turning your head. Upstairs rows run A through R, and the value drops fast after the first half-dozen.
Upper corners, 201–202, 208–209, 214–215 and 221–222. These are the same height as the sideline seats but priced below them. The view is diagonal, but the steep rake keeps the near basket in clear view.
Budget / Cheapest Way In
Michelob Ultra Club standing-room tickets. These are standing-room tickets for rails and ledges in the SRO area at the front of sections 211–212, first-come, first-served. It’s the cheapest way into a Kings game and a good social spot for a group, but you’ll be on your feet all night.
Upper end sections, 210–213. These are the only seats behind a basket upstairs and usually the cheapest seats with a chairback. You’re far from the court, so bring patience for the far-end possessions.
Our Pick
Rows A–F in 204–206 or 217–219. You see the whole court, the steep rake keeps heads out of your way, and you keep enough money for a real dinner in DOCO before the game.
What to Avoid (and What’s Worth Trying Once)
Low rows behind the baskets, 101–102, 112–115 and 125–126. From ground level behind the stanchion, the far end of the court flattens out and the backboard gets in the way. If you’re behind a basket, sit higher.
The back rows of the upper ends. The top of 210–213 is the farthest point from the court in the building. For a small price difference, move to the front of an upper corner.
Worth it once: a Lakers or Warriors night. Both fan bases fill the building, the prices climb, and the noise matches. The seats don’t change, but the building does.
Best Seats for Concerts at Golden 1 Center
For an end-stage show, the stage goes up at the hangar-door end, with 101–105 and 122–126 behind or beside it. Because the upper deck doesn’t wrap that end, there are no upper-level seats behind the stage, and every seat in the 200s faces it.
Floor sections 1–3 or the pit. Sections 1, 2 and 3 are closest to the stage, and 4, 5 and 6 are farther back. When a show has a GA pit, it sits in front of 1–3. A floor ticket for a concert usually includes access to the Rush or Assembly club lounges, which have their own bars and shorter lines than the concourse. Access varies by show, but it’s the best perk in the building that most concertgoers don’t know about.
The lower sideline sections nearest the stage, 106–108 and 119–121. You’re elevated, close, and looking across the stage at a slight angle. These are the best seated view in the building.
Head-on from 112–115 or 210–213. You get the full production the way the lighting designer drew it. Upstairs, the front rows of 211–212 are the value play for a big show.
Skip the edges of 105 and 122. They sit right at the side of the stage, where the speaker stacks and set pieces cut off the view.
Premium Seating & Clubs at Golden 1 Center
Premium here is concentrated at floor level, where the clubs sit, plus the Loft and Suite rings between the two bowls. The current sponsor names below come from the arena’s own club-access list.
The Best Premium Experience
Courtside, sections 1–9, rows 1–3. These seats come with an all-inclusive event-level lounge (currently the Red Hawk Lounge), VIP entry, and in-seat service. You also watch the players leave the locker room and walk out to the court. In a building this tight, courtside feels like sitting on the bench.
Best Value Premium
The lower club rows in 106–108 and 119–121. These are the arena’s club seats. They’re on the lower level instead of a separate club tier, which makes them unusual. Seats in 106–108 get access to Rush by Sire Spirits, and seats in 119–121 get access to Assembly by Crown Royal. Both are event-level lounges with fire pits and a central bar. You’re sitting at center court with a club to escape to at halftime, for a fraction of the courtside price. This is the upgrade to make.
Other Premium Options
The Lofts are semi-private boxes for up to ten guests with lounge seating, a communal bar table and personal 65-inch TVs, plus preferred parking and a VIP entrance. Loft availability depends on the stage setup for non-Kings events.
The Boardroom is row 1 of courtside sections 2 and 3, reserved for select owners and platinum members.
Suites & Group Options
Golden 1 Center has 34 suites, leased year-round and covering every event in the building. Suite holders also get three private clubs on the premium level, including two skyboxes that look out over the plaza. Some suites are available to rent for individual events through the arena’s suite sales team. Kings group tickets are sold separately through the Kings.
Golden 1 Center Capacity and Seating Chart
Golden 1 Center seats 17,608 for Kings games and about 19,000 for concerts. The Kings kept it small on purpose so the building would feel full and loud.
The chart has two quirks to know before you buy. In the lower bowl, rows run AAA, BBB and CCC, then AA through GG, then A onward, so row A is roughly ten rows back from the floor. Courtside sections 1–9 use numbered rows 1–3.
For the full layout by level, including Loft and Suite locations, use the official Golden 1 Center arena maps, and here is the Interactive Seating Map for the Kings.
Tickets To Sacramento Kings Games
Beyond 41 Kings home games plus preseason, Golden 1 Center runs a busy calendar. It books major country and pop tours, a deep run of Spanish-language and regional Mexican headliners, and big-name stand-up. It also hosts WWE, Monster Jam, PBR bull riding and Disney On Ice. College basketball returns in March 2027, when Sacramento State hosts NCAA men’s tournament first- and second-round games here. For every date, see the Golden 1 Center events calendar.
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.
Golden 1 Center Bag Policy
Bags larger than 8″ x 6″ x 1″ are not allowed, and backpacks are banned outright, whatever the size. That limit is smaller than most arenas’, so a standard purse won’t make it. Baby bags up to 16″ x 16″ x 8″ are allowed for parents. Medical bags must be searched and tagged by a security supervisor. There’s no bag storage at the doors, so anything prohibited goes back to the car or into the trash.
Is Golden 1 Center Cashless?
Yes, fully cashless, and there are no cash-to-card kiosks inside. The arena takes chip cards, tap-to-pay and mobile wallets. Golden 1 Credit Union ATMs sit outside near the box office.
What Time Do Doors Open at Golden 1 Center?
Doors open 90 minutes before tip-off for Kings games and one hour before most other events.
Key Venue Policies
No re-entry. If you leave, you need a Security Supervisor or Manager at Guest Services to arrange it. The rule covers smokers too, and smoking is banned within 250 feet of the arena.
Noisemakers are banned, with one exception: cowbells at Kings games. Air horns, whistles and drums get turned away at every event.
Also prohibited: laptops, flashlights of any kind, selfie sticks, detachable-lens cameras, and all outside food and drink (baby food and formula excepted). Umbrellas are allowed. Children under 24 months get in free on a lap.
Accessibility: ADA drop-off and pick-up is at 4th & J, 6th & J, and 7th & K, and staff can provide wheelchair escort from the plaza to your seat. Assistive listening devices are available at Guest Services, across from Section 109 (Plaza) and Section 207 (Bridge).
Check the arena guide for full list of policies.
Golden 1 Center Parking
The arena has no parking lot of its own. Parking is spread across city garages sold through SacPark, and prepaying is the move because event pricing starts two hours before the event. Garages open two hours before the start, passes are good until two hours after, and spots are first-come within the garage. The closest option is the DOCO West Garage at 3rd & L. It’s the only Downtown Commons garage that allows event parking, and its 6’9″ clearance rules out lifted trucks and roof boxes.
The Old Sacramento Garage (2nd & I), Tower Bridge Garage (Front & Capitol Mall), City Hall Garage (10th & I) and Capitol Garage (10th & L) are all a short walk away. Walkways lead into the plaza from 5th & J, 7th & K and 5th & L. Tailgating isn’t allowed in any city garage.
City monthly-permit holders can stay parked in their own garage through an event at no extra charge. If you work downtown, just stay put after work.
Public Transit
SacRT light rail stops within a block of the arena. The 7th & Capitol / 8th & Capitol station serves all three lines (Blue, Gold and Green). 8th & K and St. Rose of Lima Park are the closest stops on the K Street side. SacRT runs four-car trains after Kings games and major events, and it sells a group day pass covering up to four riders with an event ticket, which beats paying for parking. Before a weekend event, check SacRT’s station-closure page, because Gold Line modernization work has been closing stations on weekends.
Coming from the Bay Area or the airport: the Capitol Corridor train arrives at Sacramento Valley Station, about a five-minute walk from the arena. Check the last train home before a late tip. The SacRT 142 Airport Express bus runs from Sacramento International, which is 9.7 miles away, to downtown light rail stops.
From Roseville: the city’s Game Day Express bus runs nonstop to Kings games. It leaves about 75 minutes before tip-off, drops at Sacramento Valley Station, and heads back 30 minutes after the final buzzer. Tickets are sold online until noon on game day.
Rideshare
Drop-off is easy on the streets around DOCO, but after the game every car heads for the same few blocks by the plaza. Walk three or four blocks toward Capitol Mall or east along J Street before you request a ride. You’ll get picked up faster and usually pay less than surge pricing at the door.
Biking
The Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates run a free bike valet at Ali Youssefi Square (7th & K). It opens two hours before major events and stays open half an hour after. Bikes aren’t allowed on the plaza, so walk them in.
Golden 1 Center Insider Tips & Hacks
A Kings night starts in DOCO, the Downtown Commons district that surrounds the arena, and ends out on the plaza looking up at the roof. These tips are mostly about the parts of the night that aren’t on the court.
Light the Beam
Stay for the beam after a win. After every Kings victory, a player or guest hits a giant purple button at center court and a purple laser fires from the roof above the grand entrance. It stays lit until midnight. Head out to the plaza to see it straight up above you.
Look for it from across town, too. The beam is visible for miles, and locals check the skyline to find out whether the Kings won.
Arriving at Golden 1 Center
Get in when doors open for a Kings game. Doors open 90 minutes before tip. The concourse is open to the plaza, so on a mild night with the hangar doors up, it’s the best time to walk the building.
Do your Team Store shopping earlier in the day. The Kings Team Store is open daily, but it closes two hours before an event starts, which catches out-of-towners who plan to buy a jersey on the way in.
Watch for the Kings Countdown rally before the home opener. The team started a free pregame rally in DOCO before the first home game of the season, with the drumline, dancers and giveaways, and it drew hundreds of fans hours before tip.
Golden 1 Center Food & Drink
Eat local. About 90% of the ingredients served in the arena come from within 150 miles, and several stands are run by Sacramento restaurants.
Get the tacos at Centro (Section 101). The corn tortillas are pressed by hand right on the concourse, and the “Light the Beam” churro is the dessert to add.
Get pizza at Paragary’s (118 and 203) or Selland’s (106). Both are wood-fired pizza from long-running Sacramento restaurants.
Get a burger or shake at Cafe Bernardo (115 and 216). It’s the spot for smashburgers, garlic fries, milkshakes and root beer floats.
Head upstairs for barbecue and gyros. Smokehouse BBQ (222) smokes its brisket in-house, and Petra Greek (210) carves gyro meat off vertical rotisseries at the stand.
Check the Market Kitchen (201) for something new. It’s the arena’s pop-up stand, and it rotates in dishes from local chefs.
Drink California beer. The taps lean heavily toward Northern California breweries, including Device, New Glory, Russian River, Sierra Nevada and Lagunitas. Union Wine, Spirits & Ale (124) is the full cocktail bar. Beer and drinks are capped at two per person per sale.
Order through the Kings + Golden 1 Center app to skip the line at halftime.
Kings Traditions
Bring a cowbell. Kings fans have rung cowbells since the ARCO Arena days, and it’s the only noisemaker Golden 1 Center allows. It’s allowed at Kings games only, not concerts.
Chant with the building. “Light the beam!” goes up in the closing seconds of any game the Kings have locked up. Slamson the lion runs the crowd the rest of the night.
Best Photo Spots at Golden 1 Center
Shoot the grand entrance from the plaza at dusk. The hangar doors, lit from inside, are the signature shot of the building.
Find Jeff Koons’ “Coloring Book #4” on the plaza. The 18-foot sculpture is the centerpiece of the arena’s public art collection and a natural meeting point before the game.
Wait for the beam. On a win night, a photo from the plaza with the laser overhead is the one Kings fans post.
Bringing Kids to a Kings Game
Plan for the lap rule. Kids under 24 months get in free on a lap, and everyone older needs a ticket.
Know where the family facilities are. Family restrooms are at Sections 105, 114, 118, 121, 203 and 220, and a Mamava nursing pod sits across from Section 211. You can check a stroller at Guest Services across from 109 or 207.
Use the sensory room if you need it. It’s on the Event Level, and Guest Services will escort you there. They also lend free sensory bags with noise-canceling headphones, and weighted lap pads on request. You leave an ID as a deposit.
Autographs & Player Access
Don’t plan an autograph hunt. The arena bans asking for player or performer autographs on the property, and loitering by the practice facility or garages isn’t allowed. Public signings are announced in advance when they happen.
Watch warmups from your own seat instead. With the bowl sunk this close to the floor, the lower sidelines are the best place to watch the pregame shootaround.
Golden 1 Center Quirks
Wait for a dead ball to get back to your seat. The arena enforces a ball-in-play policy, and ushers hold you in the aisle until play stops.
Connect to #FidiumFiber@Golden1Center. It’s the free Wi-Fi network, backed by hundreds of access points built into the arena.
Text “SUPPORT” to 916-GOT-HELP to reach arena dispatch about a problem near your seat without leaving it.
Hotels Near The Golden 1 Center
Downtown Sacramento is compact, and most hotels worth booking are within a 15-minute walk of the arena. On a Lakers or Warriors weekend, or when a big tour is in town, the closest hotels sell out early, so book when you buy your tickets.
Best Areas to Stay
DOCO and the K Street blocks put you at the arena doors, with the most bars within a couple of minutes’ walk. Old Sacramento, the Gold Rush-era riverfront district about ten minutes west on foot, gives you boardwalks, the river and a tourist-town feel. The Capitol area along J and L Streets is quieter and full of business hotels. Midtown is the city’s best neighborhood for restaurants and nightlife, but it’s a 20-minute walk or a short ride from the arena.
Where to Stay for a Kings Game
Kimpton Sawyer Hotel is part of the DOCO development, directly across from the arena, and it has a rooftop pool deck. It’s the splurge, and the walk to your seat is shorter than the line at the concourse bar. Parking is valet.
Hyatt Centric Downtown Sacramento sits on 7th Street a block from the plaza and has a rooftop bar that’s worth a drink even if you’re not staying. The lobby is small and crowded on event nights.
The Citizen Hotel is a restored 1920s building on J Street filled with political cartoons and Capitol history, and it’s the most characterful hotel downtown. The park across the street can feel rough late at night.
Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront Promenade is on the river at the foot of Capitol Mall, with a made-to-order breakfast and an evening reception included. It’s the comfortable middle pick for families, but the valet line backs up at check-in.
Delta King Hotel is a 1920s paddlewheel riverboat docked in Old Sacramento. It’s the fun one, with tiny rooms, narrow stairs and a bar with river views. Pack light.
Hyatt Regency Sacramento faces Capitol Park about a ten-minute walk from the arena. It’s polished and dependable, and it’s the easy pick if you’re stopping at the Capitol while you’re in town.
Budget Options
Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena at 3rd & J is the closest budget-friendly hotel to the arena, a few minutes’ walk away. The rooms are dated and the breakfast is odd, but the location is hard to beat.
Aiden Hotel Sacramento Downtown on H Street is a freshly remodeled small hotel with free loaner bikes and free EV charging, about a 15-minute walk from the arena. It’s still new and doesn’t have many reviews yet, but the early ones are strong.
Bars/Restaurants Near The Golden 1 Center
Pregame in Sacramento happens on the blocks around the arena. The DOCO plaza and the stretch of K Street east of it fill up an hour or two before tip, with Kings jerseys packed onto rooftops and patios. After the game, the crowd splits: some stay on K Street, some walk the tunnel under I-5 to Old Sacramento for a nightcap by the river, and the rest head to Midtown, where the bars stay open later.
Best Pregame & Postgame Bars
Tom’s Watch Bar is the main sports bar in DOCO, with wall-to-wall screens, a big patio and a kitchen that runs late. It’s the default meeting spot before tip.
Darling Aviary on K Street has a rooftop with DJs and misters on hot nights. It’s where the pregame crowd goes once the sun drops.
Tipsy Putt puts beer and a basement mini-golf course a block from the arena. Get there early on game nights, because it’s small and gets crowded.
Punch Bowl Social, on the ground floor below the Sawyer, has bowling, arcade games and big shareable punch bowls. It’s a good group stop after the game.
Best Restaurants in the Area
Frank Fat’s has been serving Sacramento lawmakers since 1939, and its honey walnut shrimp and banana cream pie are institutions. It’s a five-minute walk from the arena and closed Mondays.
Ella Dining Room & Bar on K Street is the best dinner near the arena, an upscale farm-to-fork restaurant in a bright white room. It’s closed Sundays and worth a reservation on game nights.
Echo & Rig is the steakhouse inside DOCO, with an in-house butcher shop and a strong bar. It’s the closest serious dinner to the arena doors.
Sauced BBQ & Spirits on 7th Street is loud, fast and right on the way in. On busy game nights, the most popular smoked meats can sell out by late evening.
Why You Should Go
The best version of this building happens on a warm spring night. The hangar doors are folded open to the plaza, the Delta breeze drifts in off the river, cowbells ring from every level, and a crowd that nearly lost its team fills the seats. The arena is small enough that the noise rolls down to the floor, and sharp enough that it still feels new a decade on. Come in the heart of the season, when a Lakers or Warriors crowd is in town and the building is full, and ride light rail in so the night starts on K Street. When you arrive, stand on the plaza under the roofline and look up. If the Kings win, that’s where the beam will go.
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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.