The Abridged version:
- One stand in the Sacramento Kings’ arena, Golden 1 Center, sells 12-ounce beers for a mere $5.
- Fans can buy cans of Estrella Jalisco and Corona Premier at the kiosk outside Section 222, along with hot dogs and nachos.
- Golden 1 Center had the 12th-most expensive beer on average among 30 NBA arenas last season.
Fans will flood into Golden 1 Center for the Sacramento Kings’ 2025-26 home opener on Friday.
In-the-know adults on a budget will head upstairs to a stand outside Section 222.
The otherwise nondescript booth sells hot dogs, nachos and beer — the typical tall boys for $15-$16, but also 12-ounce cans for a mere $5. It’s the only stand in the arena with such a deal, which has become something of insider lore among Kings fans since the 2022-23 season.
Past beer options have included Kona Brewing Co.’s Longboard Island Lager and Big Wave golden ale. This year, it’s the Mexican lagers Estrella Jalisco and Corona Premier. All of those, seemingly by design, are low-ABV brews that don’t require the commitment (or result in the tipsiness) of a 19.2-ounce can.
The $5 beers have moved around Golden 1 Center, originally available at select stands in both the arena’s lower and upper bowls. They’ve been at kiosks for LowBrau sausages, WeDaShii sushi and Smokehouse BBQ, never with any sort of signage other than a listed price on the menu.
“You can’t get it in the first level. First level, you have money to be there, right?
Kings fan Daniel Ramirez, Jr.
But second level … it’s for the people that … really enjoy the game.”
Indeed, the $5 beers remain something of an “IYKYK” secret. Golden 1 Center has never advertised them, even after a March report found its beers were the 12th-most expensive among 30 NBA arenas, and Kings representatives didn’t respond to requests for comment about their origin.
That hasn’t stopped fans such as Daniel Ramirez Jr. and Victoria Campos from lining up for their maximum allowance of two cans per person, per sale. Ramirez, a frequent Kings game attendee, showed Campos the ropes at a preseason game against the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 8.
“I never knew they had the $5 deal!” Campos said.
“I told her it’s only a certain station that has it, and you’ve got to get it before they run out,” Ramirez said. “It’s a good treat. It’s a steal of a deal. And if you’re a first-time enthusiast, you’ve never been to a game, it saves money … and helps you out a lot.”
Keeping the $5 beer stand near the nosebleeds feels like a concession to Kings fans balling on a budget, Ramirez said.
“You can’t get it in the first level. First level, you have money to be there, right?” Ramirez said. “But second level … it’s for the people that want to be really enthusiastic people, people that really enjoy the game. They’re going to come to see it. People down there, it’s more to be a hypebeast and show off and post their TikToks.”
Benjy Egel is the senior food editor at Abridged. Born and raised in the Sacramento region, he has covered its local restaurants and bars since 2018. He also writes and edits Abridged’s weekly food and drink newsletter, City of Treats.