Will Sacramento Kings fans be back in Golden 1 Center for games in 2021? How it could happen
As coronavirus infections drop in Sacramento, a big question becomes more real for Kings fans: Will Golden 1 Center reopen for basketball in 2021? And will fans be allowed through the doors?
It’s a complicated equation, and the answers likely won’t come for months. For now though, the bet is: Yes to the first question. And maybe, conditionally, to the second.
The coronavirus experience has evolved dramatically and unpredictably since March, when the NBA abruptly shut down its 2020 season. Health officials say the coming months will see more unforeseen developments, for better and worse, that will determine what the Kings and NBA can and can’t pull off next year.
At the moment, the NBA Finals are being played in an access-controlled “bubble” in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando. No fans are allowed in the stands, and no family members are allowed in team hotels.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, however, said Wednesday during his annual NBA Finals press conference that he wants to get the league back to a regular season, played in home cities, with some fans in the stands, as early as the end of January 2021.
Sacramento County’s health chief, who will have some say, agreed that is something that could be considered here, depending on how the next few months play out.
“We would have to see how things go over the winter,” Dr. Peter Beilenson said. “If we have infection spikes, we clearly will not encourage people to come in person. If we made it to (the state’s) yellow tier, potentially we can have some fans.”
That likely would be welcomed by the Kings, who are losing revenue by not being able to hold games, concerts and other events in the arena. The team announced layoffs this week. Team officials deferred comment to league officials this week about starting up play at Golden 1 Center next year.
It also may be welcomed by city officials. The Kings this week paid the city their $1.6 million summer quarter lease for the arena. But the team made only a minimum or reduced rent payment of $40,000 the previous quarter due to a stipulation in its lease contract with the city that says the team is only required to make minimum rent payments if regular season games are not playing in the arena.
The wording in that agreement appears to indicate that the Kings would, however, have to make full rent payments to the city if they play games in the arena next year with or without fans present.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said stadiums and arenas full of sports fans and concert-goers will likely be among the last types of public events allowed as the state recovers from COVID.
Under California’s current tier system, nevertheless, the NBA will be allowed to play games in home arenas. But there are no protocols announced for when and how fans will be allowed back in.
Speaking in Orlando this week, NBA Commissioner Silver said he believes “there’s almost no chance” a vaccine will be widely distributed prior to the expected 2021 season. Instead, he said the league is working with Yale University on the possibility of instant COVID-19 testing at arena doors.
“As for fans in seats, it’s certainly our goal, but it’s dependent on some additional advancements. Rapid testing may be the key here,” he said. “The question is will there be truly rapid testing, point of care testing ... instant results.
“I think a lot could change between now and then ... My sense is that with rapid testing, it may not be that we’ll have 19,000 people in the building, but that with appropriate protocols in terms of distancing and with advanced testing that you will be able to bring fans back into arenas.”
There is the possibility California could agree to allow a limited number of fans into games next year, similar to current allowances for up to 25% capacity indoors in restaurants. State officials declined comment on whether or when they would consider that, however.
“When we have information about changes to guidance covering professional sports and in-person attendance, we will share it with the public,” the California Department of Public Health wrote in an email to The Sacramento Bee.
Should something like that be allowed next year, Sacramento County health chief Beilenson said he would want to require that Kings’ fans remain six feet apart and wear masks in the arena.
The NBA, which has 30 teams with home arenas around the country, also could be hamstrung by the country’s localized rule-making on what is allowed during COVID. That could mean that some states and local jurisdictions could allow fans in the stands while other regions do not.
This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 12:46 PM.