NBA Kings President Chris Granger said the team has "indicated to the NBA that we plan to bid" on the '20 All-Star Game, according to a front-page piece by Lillis & Bizjak of the SACRAMENTO BEE. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Thursday was in attendance for the team's first regular-season game at Golden 1 Center, and after touring the facility and greeting fans, he said that the NBA is "determined to bring the lucrative All-Star Game to Sacramento." Silver said that the city is "'thousands' of hotel rooms short of the inventory needed to host" the NBA's All-Star Weekend, but he noted the team is "working on solutions to that issue, including exploring if they can dock cruise ships at the Port of Sacramento in West Sacramento to accommodate fans." Meanwhile, Lillis & Bizjak note fans "poured into" the new $557M arena to see the Kings face off against the Spurs in what turned into a "raucous evening." Kings Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive, referring to the first game after his group took over the franchise in '13, told the crowd, "Three years ago, I stood before you and said, 'This is your team and it's here to stay.' Tonight, I'm very, very happy to say, 'Welcome to your new home.'" Silver said that Golden 1 Center "features elements he has never seen in his 25 years with the NBA, including seat-by-seat climate control technology, locally sourced food and massive hangar doors that can create an indoor-outdoor arena." The Kings "want to open those doors for games when the weather agrees." Silver said that the league "now has a policy to allow that." Silver: "We are confident that under the right weather, there will be no impact on gameplay" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 10/28).
EMOTIONS HIGH: Silver said, "It's a borderline miracle from where we were in 2013 to be here in 2016, a year earlier than they originally pledged to have an arena done." The AP's Josh Dubow noted the arena is the "first professional sports venue powered completely by solar energy," and it is also the "first indoor venue to receive LEED Platinum certification." Silver: "These are true modern day town halls. You can see from the smiles on the fans' faces as they were walking in, there was sort of a collective 'Wow!"' Among the "most unique features are the airplane hangar doors that can be opened to turn the venue into an indoor-outdoor arena" (AP, 10/27). Dubow writes it was an "emotional night as fans remembered how close the franchise was to moving to Seattle" before Ranadive bought the team in '13 and reached a deal to build the arena (AP, 10/28). In Sacramento, Jason Jones writes Thursday night "offered a new level of festivity and fanaticism for Sacramento in a once-decaying downtown setting few dared dream of just a few years ago." There was "no tailgate scene because there is no major outdoor parking lot, but the energy was palpable outside" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 10/28). Also in Sacramento, Matt Kawahara notes among the members of the early-'00s Kings teams in attendance Thursday were VP/Basketball Operations & GM Vlade Divac; Dir of Player Personnel & Development Peja Stojakovic; CSN California Kings analysts Doug Christie and Bobby Jackson; and TNT's Chris Webber, who took a rest from his game-calling responsibilities (SACRAMENTO BEE, 10/28).
BABY ON BOARD: The Kings on Thursday announced that nursing moms "won't have to miss the action with the opening of a tiny breastfeeding pod in the upper decks" of Golden 1 Center. In Sacramento, Claudia Buck notes the new lactation pod, known as a Mamava, was open for Thursday's game. The Kings said that they are the "first NBA team to host a Mamava lactation pod for breastfeeding women" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 10/28). In San Jose, Troy Wolverton writes fans are giving Golden 1 Center "rave reviews" so far (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/28).
LOOKS GOOD TO US: In San Antonio, Jeff McDonald notes Spurs coach Greg Popovich "noticed a more practical improvement" over Sleep Train Arena, the Kings' former home. Popovich said, "The visitors' locker room is a huge upgrade." The locker rooms at the Kings' old arena "were among the most cramped in the NBA." Spurs C Pau Gasol "gave the Kings' new digs a thumbs up as well." Gasol said, "I have a soft spot for old things, tradition and all that stuff, but there's a time you have to modernize" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 10/28). Sacramento-based KXTV-ABC's Bryan May tweeted, "What a great vibe in the @Golden1Center tonight. Feels like a playoff game." Kings blogger Kevin Fippin: "The stomping is gone but it’s still crazy loud in here. The G1C retained the Arco Thunder and then some." Pac-12 Networks' Kris Vossmer: "G1C can get LOUD and man was it fun to see the #Kings competing again." Sacramento Bee's Ailene Voisin: "Very cool idea having a construction worker who helped build Golden 1 Center sing national anthem for G1C historic opener."
