Plans Announced for New E-sports Facility at Golden 1 Center

The Sacramento Kings have unveiled plans for a dedicated e-sports facility and content studio inside of Golden 1 Center, the 17,500-seat arena that is home to the NBA team. The facility will feature state-of-the-art gaming technology, full-service broadcast capabilities to produce livestreams, and other amenities.

“Using technology to engage with our fans and reach new audiences has always been core to our organization’s mission,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “Golden 1 Center is the most advanced arena for basketball, entertainment and e-sports. This state-of-the-art facility will set a new standard and provide the best-in-class tools that the next generation of superstar gamers need to train, compete and win.”

The advanced training facility, broadcast center and gamer lounge inside the arena will also be utilized for the Kings’ upcoming NBA 2K league team and future Kings gaming teams. Earlier this year, the NBA 2K e-sports league announced that the Kings will join 16 other NBA teams to participate in its inaugural season scheduled to debut in 2018.

The new space will be able to accommodate a direct feed into the arena’s bowl, utilizing the 4K Ultra HD video screen. Additionally, 360-degree immersive audio will enhance the experience for both gamers and fans. When the facility is not being used for e-sports events, it will serve as an amenity for touring acts that can use the space as a backstage lounge complete with hundreds of gaming titles as well as a professional DJ rig. Located steps away are amenities including a farm-to-fork culinary program and an on-demand oxygen bar alongside a beverage bar serving kombucha and nitrogen coffee.