October is chock full of fun outings where the entire family can have fun and get active. Hail the Kings at their new throne, take a stroll to support literacy, head-bang through your vinyasa flow, or jog for a great cause this October.

It’s a known fact that Sacramento is a basketball town. Through thick and thin, our city has support our team with unprecedented enthusiasm. This zealot-like passion has paid off this year with a new crown jewel for the region, the Golden 1 Center. Downtown Sacramento will never be the same now that it houses the coolest and greenest building in the nation. From the arena’s design (the hanger style doors are seriously cool) to its public art, people can’t help but stop and stare at what we worked so hard to achieve. On October 27, help kick off a new era of proud with the Sacramento Kings at their first home game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Hopes are high for the new season for a few reasons. Of course, the new arena will draw crowds, but a host of new players have joined the Kings as they strive to break through the playoff wall. Most notably, Head Coach Dave Joerger stepped into the folds to take the reins from George Karl. Coach Joerger is well respected throughout most of the league and his slower style should fit some of the team’s stars. The Kings also added a few players who look to be important pieces to the upcoming season, notably shooting guard Arron Afflalo, small forward Matt Barnes, and point guard Ty Lawson. With a newly assembled roster and a new court to defend, anticipation is high among Kings fans.

While the on court product has yet to be truly tested, Golden 1 Center has passed a few tests with flying colors. I was lucky enough to attend the first game when the Kings hosted the Maccabi Haifa Basketball Club from Israel. This was my first experience with the Golden 1 Center and I was eager to finally set my feet inside the building, but I was also a little nervous from a lot of the chatter I’d heard before the game. What about parking and traffic? Would there be leg room? Will I be able to find something as good as Sleep Trian Arena’s chicken finger basket? Fortunately, my uneasiness settled very quickly.

By using SacPark, I was able to reserve a spot less than a mile away. As I got closer to the arena I joined a sea of purple that was flowing towards our common destination. Despite the crowd, getting through security took significantly less time than at Sleep Train. Within moments of passing through the metal detector, I was in awe at just how beautiful, unique, and open the main entrance of the arena was. Inside, there isn’t a bad seat in the house. I was equally mesmerized by the dining options. With the likes of Café Bernardo, Centro Cocina, Mikuni, Star Ginger, LowBrau, Petra Greek, and Block Butcher Bar, it’s hard to just find one thing to munch on. I settled on a bucket of chicken from Porchetta, hands down, my new favorite finger food (be sure to grab extra napkins for this meal though).

That night the Kings reigned triumphant with a landslide victory against Maccabi Haifa (135 to 96).

The Kings’ 2016-2017 season is loaded with questions, but one thing is certain: The Sacramento Kings are here to stay. Golden 1 Center is the city’s reminder of what it took to keep our team; and an indication of where we’ll be going. Help Sacramento’s newest crown jewel kick off its opening season with a bang by showing the Spurs what the best fans in the NBA truly look like. For more information on how to get tickets, click here.

More Golden Opportunities:
Here are a couple other athletic events that you definitely do not want to miss.

Walk4Literacy
McClatchy Park
Oct 15
Walking doesn’t just have to be for getting around. Join the Sacramento Public Library Foundation as they raise funds for their Summer Reading Program in a hopes to raise literacy rates in Sacramento.

Eppie’s Kids Duathlon
Discovery Park
Oct 16
Do you have an athletic kid? Your little one could run and bike their way to a healthier lifestyle at this 11th annual duathlon.

Metal Yoga
The Yoga Seed Collective
Oct 23
Is yoga too peaceful for you? On this Sunday, rock your chakas out with heart-pounding metal music!

Check back with Sports365 in October to see what activities I am most excited for…or plan ahead on your own by checking out Sacramento365’s Sports page!

***This blog was written by Sacramento365’s Content Specialist, Dylan Fisher.