Watch CBS News

Sacramento Kings Fan Fest Tickets Run Out In Hours

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - We are inching closer to the grand opening of the new Golden 1 Center and the city is already getting Kings fans hyped up for the big day.

Kings fans got a chance to snag "Fan Fest" tickets online Friday, before they sold out a few hours later.

It's the first event to open up the Golden 1 Center on October 1st.

Ryan Young claims to be one of the most devoted Kings fans in Sacramento.

"This is my fourth year as a season ticket holder; I go to all 45 games," Young boasted.

And he's on top of his game. Young already snatched up his Fan Fest tickets as soon as they hit the Kings website Friday at noon.

"I'm very excited. I'm a very excited Kings fan," Young said.

Dressed up in a Kings jersey weeks before basketball season even begins, Young says he was strolling through downtown Sacramento to scope out the new arena.

"Actually, I'm tracking my route for parking," Young said.

A night out in downtown Sacramento could become a lot trickier with new parking meter hours and higher pricing ahead of the Golden 1 Center's grand opening.

"The goal is to make the area more enjoyable, no matter how you come to downtown," said Ken Bernard, director of operations and logistics at the new arena.

Bernard says the city has been working with a traffic expert since 2014 to develop a plan that would help ease traffic jams during and after events.

While Bernard encourages people to arrive early, the controversial $8 million sculpture by famous artist Jeff Coons made its way to the arena Friday.

In 2015, local artists were fired up over the city's decision to not support their own, but a local curator says the city made a historic move.

"Jeff Koons is part of art history, and to have a piece or art history in Sacramento puts us on the big picture map."

The Golden 1 Center is just over two weeks away from its grand opening event.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.