December is when the Sacramento Kings schedule turns interesting. Five home games pack the calendar from mid-month through New Year’s Eve afternoon — including a prime Christmas-week matchup against the Dallas Mavericks and a noon game on December 31 that lets fans ring in the new year without losing their night. For anyone planning to catch at least one game before 2027, here’s what to expect at Golden 1 Center this December.
The December Home Schedule
The Kings play five times at Golden 1 Center in December, spread across a two-and-a-half-week stretch:
- Sunday, December 13 at 6:00 PM — Sacramento vs. New Orleans Pelicans
- Wednesday, December 23 at 7:00 PM — Sacramento vs. Dallas Mavericks
- Sunday, December 27 at 3:00 PM — Sacramento vs. Utah Jazz
- Tuesday, December 29 at 7:00 PM — Sacramento vs. Philadelphia 76ers
- Thursday, December 31 at 3:00 PM — Sacramento vs. Brooklyn Nets
The Mavericks on the 23rd is the marquee matchup — Dallas has been one of the West’s more volatile teams, and a packed Christmas-week crowd gives that game real energy. The New Year’s Eve afternoon tip against the Nets is a Sacramento tradition for fans who want to spend the evening elsewhere but still get a game in before midnight.
Which Game to Pick
If this is a first visit to Golden 1 Center, the December 23 Mavericks game is the pick. The building will be full, the atmosphere in the week between Christmas and New Year’s has a particular buzz, and evening tipoffs give time to have dinner in nearby Midtown or DOCO beforehand.
For families with young kids, the Sunday afternoon games (December 13 and 27) are the easiest choice. A 6:00 PM or 3:00 PM start gets everyone home at a reasonable hour, and weekend games tend to draw more casual fans — which means the section energy is a little looser and more forgiving for kids who are still figuring out basketball.
The December 29 game against the 76ers is for the basketball diehards. Philly has the kind of roster that tends to draw league-wide attention, and the stakes feel higher in a late-December matchup that can swing playoff seeding. Tuesday-night crowds are generally smaller, which means shorter concession lines and easier sightlines if upgrades are on the table.
Practical Details
Golden 1 Center is at 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814, in the middle of downtown. Parking garages linked to the arena open two hours before tipoff and can be reserved in advance through SacPark. Pre-purchased passes are mobile or print-at-home; spaces are first-come within the garage. Garages stay open two hours after the game ends.
Light rail is the cleanest option for anyone coming from midtown, East Sacramento, or along the Green and Gold lines. Multiple stations sit within a short walk of the arena — check SacRT’s site for any construction closures before heading out. For fans coming from Placer County, Roseville Transit runs a non-stop Game Day Express to Golden 1 Center for home games.
Free bike valet is available at Ali Yousseffi Square (7th & K St.) and opens two hours before major events. For anyone living within a few miles of downtown, biking in is genuinely faster than driving on game nights.
After the game, the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink runs through late December a few blocks from the arena — a natural post-game stop for families if there’s still energy left in the tank.
The Details
- Venue: Golden 1 Center, 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814
- December 13: vs. Pelicans, 6:00 PM PT
- December 23: vs. Mavericks, 7:00 PM PT
- December 27: vs. Jazz, 3:00 PM PT
- December 29: vs. 76ers, 7:00 PM PT
- December 31: vs. Nets, 3:00 PM PT
- Tickets: Available at kings.com and Ticketmaster; secondary market (SeatGeek, StubHub) for closer-to-game prices
- Parking: Reserve via SacPark; garages open 2 hours before tipoff
- Light Rail: Multiple stations within walking distance; check sacrt.com for construction alerts
- Bike Valet: Free, at 7th & K St., opens 2 hours before the game
- Game Day Express (Roseville): Non-stop service via Roseville Transit
Bottom Line
Five December home games gives Sacramento fans real flexibility. The Mavericks on the 23rd is the easiest recommendation for anyone who wants one game this holiday season — full house, prime matchup, evening energy. The New Year’s Eve game is its own tradition: catch the Kings beat the Nets at 3:00 PM, grab dinner afterward, and still have hours before midnight. For more on planning around this season, see the Kings 2026-27 home opener guide and the roundup of Sacramento New Year’s Eve events if the December 31 game is the target.
