The 2026-27 Sacramento Kings season doesn’t wait long. Sacramento opens on the road at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome on Tuesday, October 21, then comes home two days later for a Friday-night home opener that has already generated more buzz than most. October’s regular-season home schedule is short — just two games over three days — which makes each one worth planning around before the November slate opens.
What to Expect at the Home Opener
The Kings host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, October 23 at 7:00 PM for the first home game of the new season. Portland arrives as one of the more retooled teams in the Western Conference: Damian Lillard, who missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering from an Achilles injury, is back, and the Blazers added Ja Morant in a move that reshaped their backcourt entirely. This is not the kind of soft home opener Sacramento sometimes draws. It’s a nationally watched matchup with two storylines that will run all season.
For the crowd at Golden 1 Center, that matters. The arena tends to be loudest in October, when hope is still unlimited and fans are looking for reasons to believe the offseason changes will translate. The October 23 game is the moment to be there — a Friday night, an opponent worth watching, and the first real crowd of the new era.
The Second Home Game: Memphis Grizzlies
Two nights after the opener, on Sunday, October 25 at 6:00 PM, Sacramento hosts a Memphis team that looks considerably different without Morant running the offense. The Grizzlies are in a transition year, which gives the Kings a chance to build momentum at home before the November schedule gets more demanding. It’s also a better option for fans who want a first look at the team without the premium pricing or energy of the opener: expect a more relaxed crowd and a 6:00 PM tip on a Sunday that wraps up at a reasonable hour.
The Details
- Home Opener: Friday, October 23 — Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 7:00 PM, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
- Second Home Game: Sunday, October 25 — Kings vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 6:00 PM, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
- Tickets: Available on the Sacramento Kings official site (kings.com) and through Ticketmaster
- Parking: City of Sacramento SacPark garages open two hours before tipoff; the closest are at 5th & J, 7th & K, and 5th & L streets — spaces are first-come, first-served, so arriving early matters on Friday nights
- Light Rail: SacRT stations sit within a block of the arena; check SacRT’s schedule for any Gold Line construction closures on weekends before you go
- Game Day Express: Non-stop bus service runs from Roseville to Kings home games; visit SacRT for boarding locations and times
- Bike Valet: Free through the Sacramento Area Bike Association at Ali Yousseffi Square (7th & K St.)
- Arena: Golden 1 Center, downtown Sacramento, 7th & K streets
Tips for Getting There
The SacPark garages at 5th & L and 7th & K have direct pedestrian connections into the arena, making them the most convenient options. On a Friday night opener, those garages fill up in the first hour after opening. Getting there 90 minutes before tip, rather than 30 minutes, takes the stress out of the parking question.
Light rail is the easiest option from midtown, East Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, and the Folsom corridor. The Green Line and Gold Line both stop near Golden 1 Center. If there are weekend closures on the Gold Line due to construction, SacRT runs shuttle buses between closed stations — check the SacRT website or app the day of the game.
For the Sunday October 25 game, the 6:00 PM start time means the downtown evening parking patterns are in your favor. Metered street parking in the Capitol Mall area and along 9th and 10th streets often opens up once the dinner rush clears, which on a Sunday can be as early as 5:00 PM. It’s worth checking before defaulting to a paid garage.
Bottom Line
October gives Sacramento fans two shots at Golden 1 Center before a much longer November home stretch begins. The October 23 home opener against Portland is the marquee game: a Friday night, Lillard and Morant on the opposing side, and everything that comes with the first real crowd of the season. The October 25 Memphis game is quieter, more accessible, and a good first game for anyone who hasn’t been to the arena before. Both games fall within a single weekend, which makes going to both a realistic option for the committed fan.
Related: Sacramento Kings Fan Fest 2026 | How to Catch a Kings Home Game at Golden 1 Center This Fall | Sacramento Kings November 2026: Eleven Home Games
