Photos by David Hegler, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Golden 1 Center
500 David J. Stern Walk
Sacramento, CA 95814
Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 10,000 (lower level)
CIF Basketball Tournament
Ever since Art Webb’s Locke High School (Los Angeles) beat San Jose’s Lynbrook High School’s girls team and Bishop O’Dowd beat inter-city rival Castlemont’s boys team at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in March 1981, California’s high school basketball state championship game has been a major draw. Under the rule of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the state-wide tournament has expanded from just a single division to as many as six. While it originated and spent much of its first decade and a half in Oakland, by 1998, the CIF state championship for both boys and girls had moved permanently to the state capital, more often than not playing in Sleep Train Arena, where the NBA’s Sacramento Kings played.
The CIF state championship moved to Golden 1 Arena in 2017, soon after it opened.
Over the years, plenty of the NBA’s greatest stars got their first taste of the spotlight in the CIF state championship such as Jason Kidd, James Harden and Klay Thompson. While it may not put as much emphasis on the sport as states such as Indiana, California is a big state that is always bursting with talent. If you go to a CIF state championship game, the chances are good that you just may be watching the stars of tomorrow.
Food & Beverage 3
The food choices are exactly what you would expect of a high school basketball game. Hot dogs go for $7 and their footlong counterpart are $16. If you’re in the mood for a loaded dog with chili and cheese, the price is $12 and $18, respectively. Regular chicken tenders or hot chicken tenders and fries price at $15. Caesar or garden salads cost $10-$13. A bucket of popcorn is $10 as iss cotton candy. Hot pretzels are sold for $7 and nachos for $8.50.
Fountain drinks cost $5, bottled soda is $5.50, bottomless Sacramento Kings souvenir cup runs $10 and coffee is $4. All in all, the arena is prepared to meet most of your basic culinary needs for a full day of basketball.
Atmosphere 3
Your experience at the California basketball state championships really depends on the schools that are playing. The farther they are from Sacramento, the fewer fans will be in attendance. However, if one of Sacramento’s local high schools makes the title game (such as Jesuit on this particular visit), the lower bowl will most likely be packed with fans and bursting at the seams with energy, no matter the division.
But regardless of the classifications, the atmosphere is really good. The sections behind the end lines are a study of school spirit in and of themselves as they are reserved for the students. Some games, the stands have next to no one while others have a solid group of enthusiastic teenagers ready to root on their classmates. The bands also play there while the cheerleaders stand at the ready to wave their pom-poms. Again, all of this really depends on the school.
Fans chuckle when a big video board caught a coach nervously chewing on his towel. Even within the cavernous confines of the Golden 1 Center, there is an intimacy that can be felt throughout the games.
Neighborhood 3
The area surrounding Golden 1 Center is bustling with activity and is generally safe for a nice stroll. If you are hungry afterwards, Insomnia Cookies, Yard House, and Thai Lotus Cuisine are right across 5th Street from the arena. However, if you really want a treat, probably the best place to get a bite to eat afterwards is Leatherby’s Family Creamery. The place was specifically designed to be the hub of Sacramento; it is a safe place to enjoy freshly grilled burgers and a wide selection of sundaes inspired by the staff.
If you are going to stay the night, Hyatt Centric Downtown Sacramento, Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, and AC Hotel Sacramento are all within a couple of blocks from the arena. If you are looking for a more affordable option, then Capital City Inn is a mile northwest of the arena.
If time and schedules allow, consider visiting a Sacramento State Hornets baseball game when in town.
Fans 3
At times, during the 2025 tournament, the lower bowl was just under a quarter full, with next to no one in the student section. Other games, the lower bowl was more than half full with the student section bustling with energy and bursting at the seams. But no matter the size of the crowd, the fans in attendance are always very passionate about the game. Since the schools vary in attendance and enthusiasm, security is always prepared after a game, stringing along a long rope around the arena to hold off fans who are reveling in the spoils of victory.
Access 3
Parking is surprisingly cheap. There is a parking garage a little over a quarter mile from the arena that charges $11 all day. While it’s not the greatest area to get an Uber, there is a sliver of space alongside the arena where pickups and drop offs are more than possible. There are also numerous bus stops all around the arena.
Once you get there, there is only one entrance into the arena and there is a bit of a line getting in. The upside of this is that there are many lines going through multiple metal detectors, so depending on the line that you are in, it may go quickly or slowly. It all depends on how quickly security can go through someone’s bag.
Inside, the arena is clean, despite the small bathrooms. Every seat is padded and the ventilation is good. There is a small shop for the CIF at the entrance that sells shirts, hats and beanies. The Kings store is closed during the tournament.
Return on Investment 4
The state championship is often the peak of an adolescent’s youth. With so many games played in the same location in a single weekend, the emotions ebb and flow with the crowd size. It’s a cultural study in and of itself. The $19 spent on the ticket is very much worth the all-day investment.
Extras 2
The biggest draw of this event is the biggest extra. This is high school basketball in a current NBA arena. You can sit virtually anywhere in the lower bowl for a fraction of what it would normally cost for an NBA game.
One of the neatest features of Golden 1 Arena are the video boards. With two giant video boards on either side and two quarter-sized video-boards on either end constantly showing the action on the floor as well as the accompanying stats, it’s hard to miss a moment of the game. As an added bonus, they sometimes replay moments of the game. It’s a true rarity in high school sports that should never be taken for granted.
Unless you know that a school takes particular pride in its marching band, cheerleading squad, etc., don’t expect much of a halftime.
Final Thoughts
As an attendee, you will witness all of this and so much more as the crowds come and go, with expectations ringing anew with each tipoff. Experiencing so much emotion in a single day is good for the soul. So if you want to experience basketball in the Golden State at its pinnacle and give your emotions a good workout by witnessing the utter joy of victory and pain of defeat again and again, then go to the CIF basketball state championships at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center. It’s a truly unforgettable experience.
Comments