SACRAMENTO KINGS

ESPN ranks Golden 1 Center as the best arena in the NBA

Oct 23, 2024, 10:59 AM | Updated: 11:00 am

An exterior view showing the Beam after the Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Lakers at Gol...

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

The power of the beam strikes again.

A panel of ESPN’s NBA insiders voted on the league’s best arenas, and the results were released on Wednesday morning.

The panelists scored each arena on a scale of 1-5 in four categories: accessibility/location, food/concessions, amenities, and overall fan experience.

Once the results were tallied, Golden 1 Center—home of the Sacramento Kings—emerged as the top NBA arena in the league.

Here’s the explanation from ESPN on why Golden 1 Center took home the crown in this arena poll.

Excerpt from ESPN on Golden 1 Center

“Small market, elite arena. There might not be a more underrated arena in the league than the Golden 1 Center. It doesn’t have the nostalgia of Arco Arena, which closed in 2022, but it makes up for it with top-notch food, amenities and fan experience.

“This arena claims the No. 1 spot in our rankings after scoring in the top 5 in all four categories and No. 1 in accessibility and location. In the heart of downtown, the arena is surrounded by restaurants, and the food options inside the arena are worth writing home about as well.

“The local restaurants and breweries inside source 90% of their ingredients within a 150-mile radius of the arena, and there’s even a dedicated coffee bar to sustain fans during those late-night games.

“With a fan base nicknamed “Cowbell Kingdom,” the crowd is one of the loudest in the league — a reason it ranked fifth in fan experience. Let’s not forget the arena’s most defining characteristic: the iconic purple beam that’s lit from the top of the building after every Kings win.”

When is the next Sacramento Kings game at Golden 1 Center?

The 2024-25 NBA regular season has arrived!

Sacramento will tip-off the new season on Thursday night at Golden 1 Center against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Be sure to catch all of the action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage starting at 2:00 PM PDT on The Drive Guys before action tips off at 7:00 PM PDT from downtown Sacramento.

Sacramento Kings 2024-25 Schedule

Regular Season

  • Thursday, October 24th – vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – 7 pm PDT
  • Saturday, October 26th – @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7:30 pm PDT
  • Monday, October 28th – vs. Portland Trail Blazers – 7 pm PDT
  • Tuesday, October 29th – @ Utah Jazz – 6 pm PDT
  • Friday, November 1st – @ Atlanta Hawks – 4 pm PDT

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ESPN ranks Golden 1 Center as the best arena in the NBA