ARCO Arena (1985)

ARCO Arena (originally called the Sacramento Sports Arena and sometimes referred to as the Original ARCO Arena or ARCO Arena I to distinguish it from its successor) was an indoor arena in Sacramento, California. It was the NBA's smallest arena as it held just 10,333 people and was built in 1985 to temporarily accommodate the NBA's Sacramento Kings, who had relocated from Kansas City. The arena's first event was a fashion show on September 12, 1985.[1] The arena also hosted boxing matches.[2]

This article is about the original arena with this name that opened in 1985. For the second arena to bear this name that opened in 1988, see Sleep Train Arena.
ARCO Arena
The Madhouse on Market Street
Former namesSacramento Sports Arena
Location1625 North Market Boulevard, Sacramento, California
Coordinates38.647303°N 121.498531°W / 38.647303; -121.498531
OwnerBuzz Oates Group of Companies
OperatorBuzz Oates Group of Companies
Capacity10,333
Construction
Broke ground1984
Opened1985
Closed1988 (converted to office building)
Construction cost$12 million
Tenants
Sacramento Kings (NBA) (1985–1988)

The idea to move the Kings to the building was first pitched in late 1984, with the building being described as a "warehouse under construction" by the Sacramento Bee. The arena cost $12 million to build.[3]

Located north of Sacramento's downtown, ARCO Arena was nicknamed "The Madhouse on Market Street", and Kings games in this small venue were 100% sold out.[4] Its official name of "ARCO Arena" is believed to be the first example of an NBA team selling naming rights to a brand new facility: in this case, rights were sold to the Atlantic Richfield Company, which is now a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum. The Kings sold the naming rights for $5 million over ten years in August 1985, which included the naming rights for the new arena.[5][6]

The former Arco Arena, now the headquarters of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, 2021

The Kings left this building in 1988 to move to the new ARCO Arena, built one mile (1.6 km) to the west. The structure survived as an office building for Sprint Communications. On December 19, 2005, the California Department of Consumer Affairs moved their headquarters into the building.

References
  1. "The Event takes Center Court". Sacramento Bee. September 12, 1985. p. ST3.
  2. "Chacon to headline first arena fight card". Sacramento Bee. September 11, 1985. p. C1.
  3. "Kings owners seek permit for sports arena". Sacramento Bee. December 13, 1984. p. A1.
  4. Moore, Athen; Resnick, Erika; Sebiskveradze, Koba; Wexler, Orin. "BIGGER THAN BASKETBALL: The fight to save the Sacramento Kings" (PDF).
  5. "Kings Arena". Sacramento Bee. October 13, 1985. p. B1.
  6. "$5 million ad deal puts ARCO's name on new arena". Sacramento Bee. August 21, 1985. p. A1.
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