Light the Beam

Lore & Background

The idea to light a purple beam over Golden 1 Center first came about before the 2016–17 season. Team president John Rinehart conceived the idea, inspired by the Los Angeles Angels' Big A Sign. Consulting with owner Vivek Ranadivé, the concept materialized. Ranadivé recalled a conversation with David Kelley, who said, 'You've got to figure out what your purple lights are.' Officially called the 'Laser Space Cannon', the beam was credited to Tim Anderson of Nu-Salt Laser International. It uses 1,000 watts of RGB laser power, later upgraded to six lasers using 1,800 watts. The Kings submitted an application to the FAA in summer 2022, which was approved.

Reader's Guide

The phrase 'Light the Beam' became a popular chant among Kings fans during the 2022–23 season, following the team's first four-game losing streak and subsequent improvement. The beam was first lit after a win against the Miami Heat on October 29, 2022. Social media staff first tweeted about the beam on November 2, and player Kevin Huerter popularized the hashtag '#BeamTeam'. The chant spread to road games, with fans chanting it during a victory against the Los Angeles Clippers in December. The Kings clinched a playoff spot on March 29, 2023, ending a 16-year drought. The beam was lit by players and personalities, including rapper 50 Cent and mascot Slamson. Media outlets noted the beam became a symbol of hope in Sacramento, with fans listing it as a 'place of worship' on Google Maps and creating merchandise and cocktails. The team's success was attributed to point guard De'Aaron Fox and center Domantas Sabonis, as well as head coach Mike Brown, who became the first unanimous Coach of the Year winner.

Did You Know?

• The beam is powered by six lasers using 1,800 watts of total power, making it the brightest full-color laser equipment in the world.
• The Kings organization filed a trademark for 'BEAMTEAM' on November 21, 2022.
• Rapper 50 Cent lit the beam after a Kings win over the Indiana Pacers.