Is New Golden 1 Center Shining Too Bright For Drivers, Neighbors?

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The lights on Golden 1 Center's roof come on at night, and they're becoming a road hazard for drivers and a nuisance for neighbors.

People living and driving near the new arena, say the lights are blinding them at night.

CBS13 has received numerous complaints from our viewers over the past few weeks.

"It's almost blinding, if you come out here when it's dark, you don't want to look at it too long," said neighbor Allan Thomas.

Thomas lives on the 9th floor of an apartment complex near the new arena, almost at eye level with the shiny bright LED lights that light up the Kings logo on the roof.

"It's bright, way too bright. Even with the blinds closed as tight as possible, that light still lights up the room," he said.

Thomas has had to put extra panels up on his windows to block out the light so he can sleep at night.

"i thought they were just testing them out, and that they would only be on during game nights, but turns out, they're on every night," said Thomas.

The lights can also be dangerous on the roadways.

One driver Jeremy Stovall tweeted a picture saying: "Hey @golden1center thnks for blinding me on south bound I-5."

"The roof of the Golden One Center is pretty much at road level. The picture I put on twitter, when you look at it, you can kind of see it looks like a car is coming at you," said Stovall.

As CBS 13 made that same drive off I-5 south, the arena lights were hard to miss.

"They need to try to fix it before an accident happens," said Stovall.

Now Sacramento's new bright downtown gem, may need a dimmer switch.

"It's a light that people on the ground can't see anyway, so what good is it?" adds Thomas.

A spokesperson for the Kings acknowledges that this is a problem. They say "we are aware of the issue, and are working to resolve it."

They wouldn't elaborate on the plans or how soon it will be fixed.