Kings fans “haven’t had much to cheer for over 16 consecutive losing seasons,” but the NBA team's “early success and some dramatic victories have brought on a return of the roar in Sacramento," according to Jason Anderson of the SACRAMENTO BEE. The Kings, who currently sit fifth in the Western Conference, return to Golden 1 Center tonight to “open a five-game homestand.” The team has produced “seven consecutive home sellouts” since Nov. 30 after ranking 29th in the NBA in attendance last season. Last season, the Kings averaged 14,439 per game, which is 82.1% of Golden 1 Center’s capacity. This season, average attendance is up to 16,948, which is 96.2% of the building’s capacity. Kings coach Mike Brown said that the excitement around the team is "reminiscent of the glory days in Sacramento” when the franchise made the 2002 Western Conference Finals. Brown: “People are excited and you can feel their passion and you can feel them wanting to walk around with their chest puffed out and saying, ‘Hey, this is our team. This is Sac Town. This is Sacramento.’” Anderson notes players, coaches and fans alike have "rallied around the team’s new purple victory beam with chants of ‘Light the Beam’ filling the arena, DoCo plaza, restaurants and sports bars throughout the city” (SACRAMENTO BEE, 1/4).
Sacramento sold out Golden 1 Center seven straight times this season due to the team's recent successSergio Estrada/USA TODAY NETWORK
