Golden 1 Center — Attraction in Sacramento

Last night’s Playboi Carti concert at the Golden 1 Center was nothing short of electric — from the moment I parked to the final lights-out roar of the crowd, everything about this venue and experience was perfectly smooth and high-energy in all the right ways.

Let’s start with parking — honestly one of the easiest concert arrivals I’ve had at a major arena. Downtown Sacramento can get chaotic on event nights, but Golden 1 Center has their system dialed in. Signs were clear, attendants were friendly and professional, and I found a spot within minutes. Leaving afterward was just as seamless — traffic flowed efficiently, and I was out of the garage and on I-5 in less than ten minutes.

The moment I walked up to the arena, the vibe was unreal. The crowd energy was buzzing — people dressed in full Opium-inspired fits, camera flashes everywhere, and the bass from the sound check already rumbling through the pavement. The staff at the entrance handled the lines quickly and courteously, scanning tickets with zero hassle. Security was on point but not overbearing — friendly, efficient, and respectful.

Inside, the venue itself looked immaculate. You can tell Golden 1 Center is kept in top shape — everything from the polished floors to the sparkling restrooms (yes, even mid-concert) showed how much pride the staff takes in maintaining the space. Concessions were clean, lines moved fast, and the staff kept smiles on their faces all night despite the huge crowd.

I was seated in section 122, and the view was perfect — close enough to feel the energy but still wide enough to take in the full stage design. The acoustics in this arena are next-level. You could feel every bass drop from Carti’s set, but it was clean and balanced — not the usual muffled distortion you sometimes get at big shows. The lighting setup was insane: flashing strobes, blood-red beams, smoke bursts timed perfectly with the beats — the production team absolutely crushed it.

And Playboi Carti himself? Pure chaos in the best possible way. The energy in that building was unreal — mosh pits breaking out, fans screaming every lyric, the floor bouncing like a living heartbeat. Every track hit harder than the last, and the transitions were flawless. You could tell Carti feeds off his crowd — the intensity, the movement, the wild sense of community that forms in those moments.

One thing I really appreciated was how attentive and cool the staff were throughout. I saw employees handing out water to overheated fans, helping people find their seats, and keeping everything under control without ever killing the vibe. It felt safe, organized, and fun all at once — a perfect balance.

When the show finally ended and the lights came up, the whole place was glowing. Cleanup crews were already out making sure exits stayed clear and trash was picked up — another detail that shows how well-run this venue is.

Overall, Golden 1 Center delivered an A+ experience from start to finish. Easy parking, spotless facilities, organized entry, great staff, and world-class production made this one of the best concert nights I’ve had in years. If you’re planning to see a show in Sacramento, there’s no better spot than here.

Thank you Golden 1 Center for hosting an unforgettable night — and thank you Playboi Carti for turning the city into a full-on inferno. Definitely a 5-star experience...

The venue is completely Updated in so far as what they can offor sound video parts of the stage that move or raise...extended stage walks that go out 40' (?) over the audience...for. performers to walk out ;specifically concerts....

The reason I gave it 4 stars is for the following reasons: expensive off site parking be prepared to walk... I suggest you purchase the parking pass in advance. As sometimes the closer lots fill up.... -CASHLESS PURCHASES ONLY also because I feel like their website should have a better explanation of seat/stage As it relates to the seating chart...relative to seat/stage and also i didnt realize back seats the Sections "200-215" Is actually six stories in elevator plus an additional story or 1.5 stories that you have to take steep stairs.....I was the highest you could go.... On the elevator you get out on the sixth floor and you still have to climb steep steps.... Was with family that has mobility issues and would have liked it to state that you would still have to go upstairs. And the hand railing on stairs is not continuous all the way to the top. The elevator won't go all the way....Still enjoyed the show immensely. But unfortunately there were no larger screens like there is at king's games and graduations that projected the performer's larger. I don't know if this is regular during all concerts. But for transylvanian orchestra you had to zoom in using your phone for the screens that were utilized played pictures in line with the light show, not zoom in on the performance themselves..very far back .... most phones wren't able to zoom in clearly from the high seats So as to clearly see the musicians and actors which was a shame.

Also When you are in the "200" section.... Even if you are looking straight at the stage from that height, there will be lighting and equipment that blocks your view of portions of show the stage and performers..... I did not realize this, And it would be nice if they added a feature to let you know if your seat might have a partially blocked view....

Technologically speaking they are extremely updated.... Bordering every section are digital screens That goes around the. Entire amphitheater..... So it will be set to show related moving video or pictures of the performer's choice. I imagine it probably does ads during king's games?

You can take in a small purse. They have a sign and it has to be smaller than the sign. I would say about eight by six inches... I believe that holds true even if your bag is see through... No vapes, they will be taken as well as food and drink. X-ray machine. If you have a purse ....everybody goes through a metal detector, You remove everything from your pockets. I get that it's for safety and that part is nice, but it adds a lot of extra time to getting inside.... Some ticket holders decided to ditch their purses in the trash can rather than wait in the line a second time to get in.... Others went back to their car with bags or prohibited items.

They serve Food, snacks , alcohol and beer during concerts. I do not believe they deliver to your seat but it wasn't too long of a line. However, they don't accept cash!! I wasn't able to get a drink having left cards in my car... Though they would have accepted google pay apple pay and the additional ways to pay with your phone, providing you...

Concert Review: Papa Roach, Rise Against, & Underoath – 03/29/25

If you were expecting a night of high-energy rock and the usual rowdiness you'd expect at a hard rock concert, it seems the experience wasn’t exactly as it should have been at the Papa Roach, Rise Against, and Underoath show on March 29th, 2025. While the bands themselves brought the thunder, the venue’s staff and some of the crowd’s behavior created a cloud over the night’s performance.

Let’s start with the positives: each band brought their A-game. Papa Roach kicked things off with all the fire you'd expect, delivering a set full of hits that had the crowd moving from the first note. Rise Against, as always, brought a socially conscious edge to their performance, delivering their anthems with intensity and heart. Underoath's set was atmospheric and emotional, as they skillfully balanced chaos with melody, leaving the crowd in awe. All three bands showcased their talent and love for the music, feeding off the energy of the audience.

However, the venue’s staff seemed to miss the memo that this was a hard rock concert, where fans are meant to be loud, engaged, and completely immersed in the music. The experience took another unfortunate turn later in the night when a security guard approached me, saying that people behind me were complaining about how loud I was. The guard insisted I either tone it down or face being escorted out—at a hard rock show, no less! The absurdity of being told to quiet down while the band blasted music at full volume was not lost on me.

It wasn’t just the crowd; the ushers were unnecessarily pushy, too. I had one foot over the line of my seat at the end of the show, and they were so aggressive in pushing me back, it almost felt like I was being treated like cattle. It was frustrating to be surrounded by this tension when all I wanted to do was fully embrace the night’s experience.

While the bands were the highlight of the night, it’s hard to ignore the negative atmosphere created by the staff and the overly sensitive crowd members. Going to a show should be an escape from that kind of stress, and unfortunately, this concert was tainted by constant interference. In the end, the energy from the bands and the music was enough to salvage the night, but it’s hard to forget how the venue’s poor handling of the event made it feel more like a battle than a celebration of music.

Here's hoping future shows can be enjoyed the way they should be—loud, energetic, and without unnecessary...