Quick answer
For a group of 10 or more, buy Kings tickets through the team's group sales so everyone sits together without transaction fees, then plan the trip around Golden 1 Center's rules: doors 1.5 hours before tip-off, no backpacks, no cash and no re-entry. Park with a prepaid SacPark pass or take light rail, eat at Downtown Commons, and stay in one large home outside downtown.
Key takeaways
- Groups of 10 or more can buy through Kings group sales for seats together, no transaction fees and the chance at on-court experiences.
- Doors open 1.5 hours before tip-off for Kings games, and Golden 1 Center is cashless with a no re-entry policy.
- Backpacks are banned and bags larger than 8 by 6 by 1 inches are not allowed, so travel light.
- Prepay parking through SacPark, take light rail, or ride Roseville's Game Day Express bus from Roseville.
- A large home 20 to 30 minutes from downtown gives the group one base, a kitchen and fewer cars to park.
In this guide
Golden 1 Center at a glance
Golden 1 Center is the Kings' downtown arena, and a few house rules shape a group's whole evening. Learn them before you buy tickets, not at the gate.
| What | The rule | What it means for a group |
|---|---|---|
| Doors | 1.5 hours before tip-off for Kings games | Plan dinner early or eat inside |
| Payment | Cashless: cards, tap-to-pay, phones and watches | Make sure the kids and teens have a way to pay |
| Bags | No backpacks; no bags larger than 8 x 6 x 1 inches | Leave bags at the house or in the car |
| Baby bags | Allowed up to 16 x 16 x 8 inches | One diaper bag per family is fine |
| Re-entry | No re-entry during events | Bring everything you need on the way in |
| Children | Tickets needed from 24 months old | Count toddlers when you order |
| Outside food | Not allowed; baby food and formula are | Eat before or buy inside |
The box office opens on event days at noon or one hour before doors, whichever is earlier. The Kings + Golden 1 Center app is where you manage tickets.
Group tickets: how to buy for 10 or more
The best way for 10 or more people to buy is through Kings group sales, not one by one online. The Kings say groups of 10 or more get:
- Grouped seating, so the whole party sits together.
- No transaction fees on ticket prices.
- Access to exclusive giveaways.
- On-court experiences, such as watching pregame warm-ups or a chance to sing the anthem or perform at halftime.
The Kings do not publish group prices. Their page says pricing varies by game and seat location, and it lists a group sales phone line, an email address and an online interest form on the Kings group tickets page. Check the Kings schedule for this season's home games, pick two or three dates that work, and ask group sales to price each one.
If your group wants a private space, the Kings also sell suites. Ask group sales which option fits your headcount and budget.
Getting to the arena
A group has three good ways to reach Golden 1 Center: drive with prepaid parking, ride light rail, or, from Roseville, take the Game Day Express bus.
Driving and parking. Golden 1 Center recommends buying parking ahead through SacPark, the City of Sacramento's parking site. Passes are print-at-home or mobile, and they work from two hours before the event until two hours after it ends. Garages open two hours before tip-off, spots are first come, first served, and buying for a specific garage does not promise you a space there. Tailgating is not allowed in city garages, and there is no shuttle from downtown garages. Check SacPark for current prices.
Light rail. Golden 1 Center says several SacRT light rail stations are within a block of the arena. SacRT has scheduled weekend construction along the Gold Line, so check SacRT's station closure page before you travel.
Game Day Express from Roseville. Roseville Transit runs a non-stop bus to Kings regular season home games. It leaves the Civic Center Transfer Point in Downtown Roseville 1 hour and 15 minutes before game time and arrives about 30 minutes before tip-off. The return bus leaves Sacramento Valley Station 30 minutes after the game ends. The city lists fares of $4.50 one way or $9 round trip for the general public, with lower fares for Roseville residents, and tickets are sold online until noon on game day. Not every game has a bus, and trips are added through the season, so check the city's page for your date.
Bikes. The Sacramento Area Bike Association runs a free bike valet near the arena, open two hours before major events and half an hour after.
| Option | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Prepaid SacPark parking | Groups in two or three cars | Garages open two hours before tip-off; no tailgating |
| Light rail | Groups staying near a station | Check weekend Gold Line closures |
| Game Day Express | Groups staying in Roseville | Book online by noon on game day; not every game |
| Rideshare | Small splits of the group | Agree on a pickup spot after the game |
Where to eat before the game
The easiest place for a group to eat is Downtown Commons, the shopping and dining district around the arena. You can eat, walk to the gate and skip a second parking fee.
The DOCO directory lists these restaurants:
- Sit-down options: Yard House, Polanco Cantina, Sauced BBQ & Spirits, and Echo & Rig (listed as temporarily closed for maintenance when we checked).
- Quick and casual: Burger Lounge, Chipotle Mexican Grill, El Burrito Taqueria, Panda Express and Poke Ichii.
Restaurants change, so check the DOCO directory before you go and call ahead for any table of eight or more. On game nights, every table near the arena fills in the hour before doors.
For a sit-down group meal elsewhere in the city, our guide to the best restaurants in Sacramento for large groups has more choices, including spots in Midtown, a short ride from the arena.
A sample game day for a group of twelve
Example: a Saturday game with eight adults and four kids staying in a house outside downtown. Times assume a 7pm tip-off; adjust for your game.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | Breakfast at the house; railroad museum or the river trail |
| 2:00pm | Back at the house to rest, check tickets in the app and do a bag check |
| 3:45pm | Leave in two cars, or head for light rail |
| 4:30pm | Park with prepaid SacPark passes and walk to DOCO |
| 4:45pm | Early dinner at DOCO |
| 5:30pm | Doors open; find seats and watch warm-ups |
| 7:00pm | Tip-off |
| After the game | Meet at a set spot outside, then head back for dessert at the house |
If the group is in town for a long weekend, the rest of the days fill easily. Our guide to things to do in Sacramento with a large group covers Old Sacramento, the railroad museum and the river, and day trips from Sacramento covers Gold Country, wine country and Lake Tahoe.
Where to stay with a group
For a game weekend, one large house 20 to 30 minutes from downtown usually beats several hotel rooms near the arena. You get bedrooms for everyone, one kitchen for breakfasts and post-game snacks, and fewer cars to park on game night.
Two good bases:
- Sacramento suburbs. Our seven-bedroom Sacramento House sleeps up to 16 on a gated acre with outdoor dining. See all our Sacramento homes.
- Roseville. Downtown Sacramento and Golden 1 Center are about 25 minutes away, and the Game Day Express bus leaves from Downtown Roseville on scheduled game days. See the Roseville five-bedroom home and our Roseville page.
Both homes allow up to three pets per stay with a $100 pet fee, and service animals stay free. For trips with friends, see our group getaways page. For dates near the holidays, check our What's on in Sacramento page for other events that weekend.
The bottom line
For 10 or more people, buy through Kings group sales so you sit together without transaction fees, then plan around Golden 1 Center's rules: doors 1.5 hours before tip-off, no backpacks, no cash and no re-entry. Prepay parking through SacPark or take light rail or the Game Day Express, eat at DOCO early, and stay together in one large home outside downtown.
Frequently asked questions
How do group tickets work for a Kings game?
The Kings sell group tickets for 10 or more people. Groups get seats together, no transaction fees on ticket prices, access to exclusive giveaways and the chance at on-court experiences. Pricing varies by game and seat location, so contact Kings group sales for a quote.
What time do doors open at Golden 1 Center for Kings games?
Golden 1 Center says doors open 1.5 hours before tip-off for Kings games. For other events, doors generally open an hour before the start.
What bags can we bring into Golden 1 Center?
Backpacks are prohibited, and bags larger than 8 by 6 by 1 inches are not allowed. Baby bags up to 16 by 16 by 8 inches are allowed, and medical bags are searched and tagged by a security supervisor.
Does Golden 1 Center take cash?
No. Golden 1 Center is a cashless arena. It accepts major credit cards with a chip, tap-to-pay cards and payment-enabled phones or watches, and it has no cash-to-card kiosks.
Do kids need a ticket for a Kings game?
Golden 1 Center says all children 24 months and older need a ticket. Children under 24 months are generally admitted free if they sit on an adult's lap.
Where should a group park for a Kings game?
Golden 1 Center recommends buying parking ahead through SacPark, the City of Sacramento's parking site. Garages open two hours before tip-off, spots are first come, first served, and tailgating is not allowed in city garages.
