Golden 1 Center

Golden 1 Center is an indoor arena located in downtown Sacramento, California. It occupies part of the former Downtown Plaza shopping center and is part of the Downtown Commons (DoCo) district, which includes a 16-story mixed-use tower that cost $250 million. The publicly owned venue replaced ARCO Arena as the home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and also hosts concerts, conventions, and other sports and entertainment events. Its capacity can expand to roughly 19,000 for concerts. There are 34 luxury suites sold for year-round events, with suite holders gaining access to three exclusive clubs on the premium level, including two skyboxes overlooking the concourse with direct outdoor views. Additionally, 48 loft-style suites are available.

The arena was built after an ownership group led by Vivek Ranadivé bought a majority stake in the Kings from the Maloof family, with the city agreeing to partner on a new arena by 2016. Construction began on October 29, 2014, with Turner Construction—known locally for building Terminal B at Sacramento International Airport—serving as construction manager. The Maloof family had first proposed a downtown arena in 2012, with an estimated cost of $391 million, of which the city would have paid $255.5 million, the Kings $73.25 million, and AEG $58.75 million. The street leading to the arena’s entrance was named in honor of former NBA Commissioner David Stern, whose efforts helped keep the franchise in Sacramento; the official address is 500 David J. Stern Walk. The arena’s first concert was a two-night stand by Paul McCartney on his One on One tour, starting October 4, 2016.

The Sacramento City Council approved public financing and other terms on May 20, 2014. The total cost was initially estimated at $507 million, with the Kings contributing roughly $284 million and the city about $223 million. The city financed its share through bond sales ($212 million) and parking and economic development funds ($11 million). Construction costs later rose to $534.6 million due to a seating configuration change that moved hundreds of seats closer to the court and added other features.

The arena’s design reflects Northern California by using regionally sourced materials, including glass, recycled aluminum, and precast concrete made with sand from San Benito and Sierra limestone. All wood used is FSC-certified.