Taking a family of four to a Sacramento Kings game is not cheap, but compared with the rest of the NBA, it lands closer to the middle of the pack than the top shelf.
A recent Roto Wire analysis pegged the average total cost for four people at $279.70 for Kings games. That figure includes four tickets from SeatGeek, parking, two beers, two sodas and four hotdogs. By that measure, Sacramento sits 16th among NBA teams and comes in 18% below the league average of $343.18.
The Kings are also the least expensive of California’s four NBA teams.
At the far end of the league, the New York Knicks lead the way as the most expensive team for families, with an average outing costing $1,276.60. On the other side, the New Orleans Pelicans are the cheapest, at $167.70 for a family of four.
Ticket prices at Golden 1 Center swing pretty sharply depending on the opponent. The priciest home game on the schedule is Dec. 29 against LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers, when the cheapest seat is $144 and four tickets would run $576. That is nearly three times the average ticket price.
There is at least one more wallet-friendly date on the calendar. When the Kings host the Orlando Magic on Nov. 10, the cheapest seat is listed at $25. Across the full schedule, the average lowest-priced seat for a Kings game is $48.68, which is 23% below the NBA average of $63.17.
The bigger picture helps explain why the numbers sting. Admission to sporting events has climbed 123% since 2000, according to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, while consumer prices for housing, transportation, food, clothing and more have risen 87% over the same stretch, according to the Consumer Price Index. For families weighing a night out in a state with a high cost of living, that math matters.
In Other News...
Kings Already Face A Ben Simmons Problem They Can't Ignore
Ben Simmons arrived in Sacramento carrying the sort of baggage that makes every offseason addition feel a little more complicated than the last. The Kings took the gamble anyway, betting that a fresh setting could help a player whose injury history and broader career detours have made him one of the leagues most scrutinized names. For a team trying to stay relevant in a loaded Western Conference, the appeal is obvious enough: if Simmons can give them even a slice of his old value, he changes the look of the roster.
The problem is that the expectations around him are already moving faster than the Kings likely want. Some around the league are talking about Simmons as if he is ready to reclaim an elite level immediately, which only sharpens the pressure on a player who has yet to play a game for Sacramento. The Kings would prefer a slower ramp-up and a more careful return, with an eye on both his physical condition and where he is mentally after so much time under the microscope. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Have Heard This Story Before And Its Concerning Again
The Kings are back in familiar territory this fall, with another round of questions about the mood inside the building before the games even start counting. At a preseason dinner, owner Vivek Ranadive addressed the team, and the message quickly became a point of debate after NBA insider Zach Lowe described it as a roast that took aim at players and staff. For a franchise that has spent plenty of time trying to project stability, even the conversation around a dinner speech can feel larger than it should.
Scott Perry pushed back on that framing, saying the speech was meant to motivate and inspire the group rather than tear it down. Still, the public disagreement has only added to the sense that not everything is perfectly settled behind the scenes, especially with Kings insider James Ham pointing to ongoing internal issues connected to why some players have missed preseason action. The details there remain unconfirmed, but it is another reminder that Sacramento is once again trying to keep the focus on basketball while the off-court noise lingers in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Head To Golden State With Two Big Roles Suddenly In Focus
Sacramentos preseason has opened with back-to-back losses to the Lakers, and the quick turnaround to Golden State offers the Kings a chance to see where some of their new pieces fit before the games start counting. The early focus has been less about the final scores and more about the roster mix, with rookie Emanuel Sharp also expected to get a look as Sacramento tries to sharpen its three-point shooting.
The bigger spotlight is on the frontcourt rotation and the questions it raises for the starting group. DeAndre Hunter is being pushed by Precious Achiuwa, while Ben Simmons is part of the same conversation as the Kings sort through a competition that could shape how they open the regular season. Sacramento still has plenty to learn in preseason, but this trip to Golden State should offer a better sense of which combinations the staff trusts most. [Read more 🡒]