One of my favorite media invites of the year is the food tasting
for the upcoming Sacramento Kings season. It’s not just the food;
it’s the reminder that NBA basketball is back with hope for the
new season, and you get to spend intimate time in the beautiful
arena without the packed, cheering crowds.

In recent years, the food tasting was held on the upper Sierra
Nevada Draught House deck at the Golden 1 Center, the section
where the giant windows can open on the massive building. This
year, the tasting was held at the level surrounded by private
suites. The elite atmosphere of the setting was reinforced when
media members were handed a flute of sparkling wine upon entering
the lounge. 

The Sacramento Kings unveiled nine new food items for the 2025-26
season. Among the new offerings is a bao bun stuffed with
slow-roasted pork belly with crisp Asian slaw and chili jam.

There’s a theme for the new arena food this season — there will
be nine new entries to represent the ninth year of the Golden 1
Center, including a chicken-and-waffle sandwich, porchetta fries
and bao buns. And once again, the Kings and their food partner
Legends Hospitality made the effort to have the ingredients
locally sourced.

“We have that pledge that 90 percent of all the food and beverage
consumed in this arena comes from within 150 miles of the Golden
1 Center, which really is not an easy feat,” says John Rinehart,
president of business operations for the Kings. 

The “California Burrito” is new to the Golden 1 Center this year.
It features tinga chicken, crinkle cut fries, guacamole and sour
cream topped with pico de gallo.

The new items include fried chicken on a homemade savory waffle
made in-house with shaved Salinas cabbage and honey sriracha
sauce; the “L Street Dog,” which is an all-beef, bacon-wrapped
Schwarz hot dog with pickled jalapenos; and a “Triple Double
Cheese Dog,”which is also a Schwarz dog topped with Petaluma
Creamery housemade nacho cheese and pickled jalapeños. There’s
also a “California Burrito” stuffed with chicken, crinkle cut
fries, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo. 

Also new are bao buns filled with slow-roasted pork belly with
crisp Asian slaw and chili jam; and fries smothered in roasted
porchetta from the arena’s Porchetta House as a main snack. “We
have our crinkle cut fries with our porchetta that we do in the
rotisseries. We have our cheese sauce, pickled red onions, salsa
verde,” says Legends Hospitality Executive Chef Brien Kuznicki.

A sports event wouldn’t be a sports event without a hot dog. The
Kings have two — the new “L Street Dog” which is an all-beef
bacon-wrapped Schwartz dog with jalapenos and the “Three Cheese
Dog” which is smothered in a nacho cheese sauce.

The Kings’ smashburger made by the Paragary Group remains one of
the arena’s most popular items. “We’re just going to elevate it a
little bit, put some barbecue on there. So the barbecue we make
in house downstairs as well with our bacon, and then we also have
grilled onions,” says Kuznicki 

The Kings are bringing back a popular item from the Arco Arena
days. The “Sactown Dip” is a steak sandwich, but this one is
updated with shaved tri tip on a steak roll with creamy
horseradish, accompanied by an au jus. 

If you want something on the lighter side, Paragary’s and
Selland’s will be offering a Royal Market salad, a colorful blend
of fresh Watsonville greens, fruits and local vegetables.
Returning for an encore is the “Light the Beam” churro, dusted
with purple sugar.

Last year, the Kings held pop-up food concessions in the arena to
highlight local food vendors. This year, they’re starting a new
food concept. “We’re going to launch what we’re calling ‘Tip-Off
Tastes’ here next year, where we’re going to highlight certain
entrepreneurial, culinary experts throughout the city and
throughout the region, throughout the year here at Golden 1
Center,” Rinehart says.

For those looking for something lighter or healthier, the Royal
Salad will be served both at Paragary’s and Selland’s concession
stands at the arena. The rainbow-colored Royal Salad features
Watsonville greens mixed with locally-sourced vegetables and
fruits.

As for libations, the Kings are teaming up again with Milestone
Brands and their Dulce Vida Tequila and bold purple Empress 1908
gin (utilized in the signature “Light the Beam” cocktail) as the
official brands of the arena. 

The home opener for the Kings is on Oct. 24 against the Utah
Jazz. Beginning at 4:30 p.m. that day, the Kings are hosting the
first-ever “Kings Countdown,” a high-energy outdoor rally on the
plaza. To celebrate the new season, all fans at the game will
receive a “Forever Proud” T-shirt and magnet, courtesy of Kaiser
Permanente. And at halftime, the first-ever Volta Swarm Drone
Show will take flight inside the arena. 

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