The Sleep Train Arena: A Historical Perspective

how old is the sleep train arena

Sleep Train Arena, formerly known as ARCO Arena, was an indoor arena located in Sacramento, California. It was home to the Sacramento Kings of the NBA for nearly 30 years, from 1988 to 2016. The arena had a capacity of 17,317 seats and hosted various events, including wrestling matches, circuses, and basketball tournaments. The Sacramento Kings played their last game at Sleep Train Arena in April 2016 before moving to the Golden 1 Center. The arena was demolished in 2022, and the site was donated to California Northstate University for the development of a medical school and hospital.

Characteristics Values
Name Sleep Train Arena
Previous Names ARCO Arena, Power Balance Pavilion
Location Sacramento, California
Owner Sacramento Sports Association
Architect Rann Haight Architects
Contractor Lukenbill Construction
Mechanical Engineer ACCO Engineered Systems
Capacity 17,317
Suites 30 luxury suites
Club Seats 412
Purpose Multi-purpose indoor arena
Year Opened 1988
Year Closed 2016
Events Basketball games, wrestling events, circus performances, conferences, commencement ceremonies, concerts, ice shows, rodeos, monster truck rallies, etc.

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Sleep Train Arena was renamed from ARCO Arena in 2012

The Sleep Train Arena was an indoor arena located in Sacramento, California, United States. It was originally known as the ARCO Arena, named after the Los Angeles-based independent oil and gas company ARCO. The arena opened in 1988 and was home to the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1988 to 2016.

In 2011, the naming rights to the arena were sold to Power Balance, a manufacturer of sports wristbands, and it was renamed the Power Balance Pavilion. However, this name was short-lived as the arena assumed its final name, Sleep Train Arena, in October 2012 when the naming rights were purchased by Sleep Train, a chain of mattress and bed retailers based in California.

The Sleep Train Arena had a capacity of 17,317 and hosted nearly 200 spectator events each year, including concerts, ice shows, rodeos, and monster truck rallies. It was also the site of several notable sporting events, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship 65 and 73, and the 2007 NCAA Volleyball Championships.

In 2016, the Sacramento Kings played their last game at the Sleep Train Arena, and the last ticketed event was held in September of that year. The arena continued to host occasional events after its closure, such as conferences and swap meets, and it was even used as a temporary hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2022, the arena was demolished, and it was announced that a medical school and hospital would be built on the site.

Thus, the Sleep Train Arena, formerly known as the ARCO Arena, had a rich history as a versatile venue, hosting a variety of events and serving as the home of the Sacramento Kings for nearly three decades before its eventual demolition.

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The arena was home to the Sacramento Kings from 1988 to 2016

Sleep Train Arena, formerly known as ARCO Arena, is a sports and entertainment arena in Sacramento, California. The arena was home to the Sacramento Kings from 1988 to 2016, during which time it underwent several name changes. The Sacramento Kings are an NBA basketball team that played in the arena for nearly 30 years.

The arena was first known as ARCO Arena, named after its original namesake sponsor, ARCO. In 2007, the naming rights were extended in a multi-year agreement with the Maloof brothers. However, ARCO's sponsorship ended in February 2011, and the arena was renamed Power Balance Pavilion in March 2011 after its new sponsor, Power Balance, a manufacturer of sports wristbands.

In October 2012, the arena assumed its final name, Sleep Train Arena, when The Sleep Train purchased the naming rights. During its time as the home of the Sacramento Kings, the arena underwent several name changes, but it was most commonly referred to as ARCO Arena, even after the name change to Sleep Train Arena. The team's heyday was in the early 2000s, with players like Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, and Vlade Divac.

The Sacramento Kings played their last home game at Sleep Train Arena on April 9, 2016, winning 114-112 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The last points scored in the arena were made by the Kings' Rudy Gay with two free throws, clinching the game for the Kings. The last ticketed event at the arena was the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on September 19, 2016, the same circus that had opened the arena in 1988. The last planned non-ticketed event was Sacramento State's winter commencement ceremonies on December 17, 2016.

After the Sacramento Kings moved out, the arena remained dormant for several years, and the city of Sacramento considered various options for the site, including mixed-use development, a medical campus, or even a zoo. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the arena was converted into a temporary hospital to treat patients. Finally, in 2021, it was announced that the site would be donated to California Northstate University for the construction of a medical school and hospital. The final event at the arena was held on March 19, 2022, a free farewell event attended by thousands of fans and Kings personnel and alumni.

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The arena was designed by Rann Haight Architects

The Sleep Train Arena, formerly known as ARCO Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Sacramento, California. The arena served as the home of the National Basketball Association's Sacramento Kings from 1988 to 2016. In addition to basketball games, the arena hosted nearly 200 spectator events each year, including concerts, ice shows, rodeos, and monster truck rallies. The last Kings home game at Sleep Train Arena was on April 9, 2016, a win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The last ticketed event at the arena was the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on September 19, 2016, which also opened the arena back in 1988.

To achieve this flexibility, Rann Haight Architects and ACCO designed a system that could serve events ranging from trade shows and luncheons for 500 people to full-house rock concerts and evangelist meetings with 17,000 attendees. The arena has a seating capacity of 17,317, with 30 luxury suites and 412 club seats. The main bowl and concourse level are served by four built-up DX systems integrated into the design of the overhead catwalk network. The corridors are tastefully decorated in the team colours of purple and white, with directional signage and concession canopies. The arena bowl is configured for basketball, with an octagon-shaped floor made of hardwood, contributing to a noisy and electric atmosphere.

The Sleep Train Arena was renamed from ARCO Arena on October 15, 2012, when The Sleep Train purchased the naming rights. The arena has since been demolished, with the site donated to California Northstate University for the development of a medical school and hospital.

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The Sacramento Kings played their final game at Sleep Train Arena in 2016

Sleep Train Arena, formerly known as ARCO Arena, is a basketball arena in Sacramento, California. The arena was home to the Sacramento Kings, who played their final game there in 2016.

The Sacramento Kings are a basketball team that was purchased by a Sacramento group in 1983 for $10.5 million. In the late '80s, the team outgrew their temporary arena, and so the Sacramento Sports Association began planning a new facility. The new arena, ARCO Arena, opened in 1988. It was constructed for $40 million and was designed to accommodate a wide range of events outside of basketball games. The seating bowl was set up so that attendees had a good sightline toward the court, regardless of their seat.

In 2007, the naming rights of the arena were extended, but in 2011, the arena was renamed the Power Balance Pavilion after ARCO's sponsorship agreement ran out. Finally, in 2012, the arena assumed its final name when The Sleep Train purchased the naming rights.

On April 9, 2016, the Sacramento Kings played their final game at Sleep Train Arena, winning 114-112 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The last points scored in the arena were two free throws by the Kings' Rudy Gay, clinching the game for the Kings with one second left. The game stirred emotions and memories for many, including "Sign Lady" Barbara Rust, a figure well-known to players, Kings staffers, and fans. The final game marked the end of 28 seasons that the Kings called Sleep Train Arena home, encompassing eight winning seasons and nine playoff appearances.

After the Kings moved to the Golden 1 Center in 2016, Sleep Train Arena stood dormant for several years. The arena hosted its final event in March 2022, reverting to its original name of ARCO Arena for a free farewell event attended by thousands of fans and Kings personnel and alumni. The site has been donated to California Northstate University, and a medical school and hospital will be built there.

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The arena was donated to California Northstate University in 2021

The Sleep Train Arena, formerly known as the ARCO Arena, was home to the Sacramento Kings of the NBA for nearly 30 years, from 1988 to 2016. The arena, located in Sacramento, California, hosted nearly 200 spectator events each year, including basketball games, concerts, ice shows, rodeos, and monster truck rallies. The facility was known for its rowdy atmosphere, with hardwood floors in the seating area that added to the electric atmosphere created by dedicated Kings fans.

In 2016, the Sacramento Kings moved to a new arena, and Sleep Train Arena held its last ticketed event, with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus returning to the venue after having opened it in 1988. After the arena's closure, it occasionally hosted events such as conferences and swap meets. In 2019, Jehovah's Witnesses used the arena for an extended stay.

In June 2021, the Sacramento Kings and the City of Sacramento announced that the Sleep Train Arena site had been donated to California Northstate University, with plans to build a medical school and hospital. This decision marked the end of the arena, with the Kings hosting a final farewell event in March 2022, allowing fans to enter the arena, reminisce about their memories, and say goodbye before its impending demolition.

The donation of the Sleep Train Arena site to California Northstate University was a significant development in the university's plans to establish a medical campus in the region. The university intended to redevelop the site, with the arena likely to be demolished to make way for new medical facilities. The university's medical campus project aimed to bring much-needed healthcare services and education to the area, contributing to the community's well-being and providing opportunities for aspiring medical professionals.

Frequently asked questions

Sleep Train Arena, formerly known as ARCO Arena, was built in 1988.

Sleep Train Arena had a capacity of 17,317.

Sleep Train Arena was a multi-purpose indoor arena that hosted nearly 200 events each year, including basketball games, concerts, ice shows, rodeos, and monster truck rallies.

Sleep Train purchased the naming rights to the arena on October 15, 2012.

After Sleep Train Arena closed, the site was donated to California Northstate University to build a medical school and hospital.

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