Meetings and Conventions

May 2 marked the return of Wednesday certified farmers markets and 'Follow the Chef' tours to downtown Sacramento, namely Cesar Chavez Plaza, the park that faces Grange and The Citizen Hotel. 

Since Chef Oliver only unpacked his knives and settled into Grange in November, he introduced himself in a casual California way that betrayed his Sussex [read: British] accent. However he restrained his gestures (arms) as he described how much he loves the restaurant's proximity to the growers. Trust your chef when he tells you that he and executive sous chef, Brad Cecchi, were there much earlier. The early bird catches the worm!

As we casually walked between booths, Chef Oliver entertained questions about seasonal crops, cooking and pairing foods, and his personal relationships with local farmers. (Some growers won't even sell you certain harvests because they've set them aside for specific chefs!) As we stopped at certain canopies, we were given helpful pointers: how to spot fresh asparagus, how to cook fava beans [or broad beans] and how to encourage children to eat healthy foods. Who knew dried apples and marshmallows are so similar?! Despite the dry winter in Sacramento, Chef Oliver notes 'pockets of abundance' in the region keep his creative menus thriving.

The tour also highlights the people who bring such fresh ingredients to market. All that charisma is definitely missing from the supermarket aisle. Near the corner of 10th & I streets, Beatriz typically brings the best melons and squash. Closer to 9th & I streets, Ryan of Bogdanich Farms features naturally sweet snacks from dried fruits to jams that pair well with goat cheese -- or grilled steaks. He knows his regulars, but is ready to help anybody entertain hungry guests. My favorite was Dr. Charles French, who retired from family medicine in East Sacramento to produce Tehama Blend Olive Oil. No special orders needed from your primary care physician to see this heart health specialist!

Good thing we received a reusable grocery bag at the outset. It helped me bring home some juicy red strawberries and green sugar snap peas. I'm imagining salad and grilled chicken paired with a viognier. 

As the tour continued, I had the pleasure of meeting  various Sacramento community members and visitors: from a food literacy advocate to a women's online magazine editor, from a California legislative lobbyist to a Illinois resident on vacation. 

We knew the tour had ended when Natalie oh so tactfully asked, 'When do we get to eat?' That was kind of her to mask the growling sounds from my tummy! 

Part 2 of our farm-to-fork adventure was waiting for us back at the  restaurant... Ready for the conclusion of our Park-to-Plate narrative?

Are you meeting planner who's already picturing 'Follow the Chef' as a team building activity, incentive, or networking event for your conference? Contact the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau to ask us how to make the most of your downtown Sacramento dining partners.

Last year, the Sacramento's very own Nick on the Town (second from right) raised awareness about social issues like domestic abuse that affect our neighbors in the capital community. Local hospitality partners -- Chef Patrick Mulvaney and downtown real estate developers -- weren't shy. In fact, they recruited more friends to increase more awareness and funds to help WEAVE Inc.: Women Empowered Against Violent Environments, formerly Women Escaping A Violent Environment.

This past weekend, Hell on Heels 2 even won an award to further advance education to end sexual assault. It raised the most funds as a non-corporate team. Moreover, it featured more SCVB staffers than ever: Jeff and Matt (third and fourth left), and team leader Nick (fifth from right).

The Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau can help out-of-town visitors give back to the  community. Local service projects and fun runs build camaraderie among conference attendees, and create a unique memory of the host city. If you are a meeting planner who is interested in voluntourism, visit discovergold.org to learn more.

Are you ready for experiences that connect you with the essence of Sacramento and its people?

When you're traveling, sometimes it is comforting to stop into a Starbucks and get a "tall half-skinny half-one- percent extra hot split quad shot (two shots decaf, two shots regular) latte with whip" that tastes exactly like it does at home.

But it's not authentic.

Unlike bigger cities, Sacramento has an ideal size. There are no tourist-only areas where residents avoid. In fact, locals and tourists can enjoy a pretty similar quality of life. Meet some people in our neighborhood whose lives create lasting memories when you visit us:

THE COFFEE ROASTER, Jason Griest
In 2006 after opening another mainstay on the capital's coffeehouse circuit, Jason Griest and artisanal baker, Tim Jordan, started a wholesale coffee bean roasting business. Old Soul Co. sources green beans from small estates and fincas, then lightly roasts them in a 12-pound roaster.

"My favorite days are roasting days because it smells so great in there," hinted Diana, a regular patron.

"You can actually watch bakers put high-grade crack into those addictive ham and cheese croissants," remarked another patron, Richard.

Located only blocks from the Sacramento Convention Center and downtown hotels, the warehouse-cafe (and de facto community center) has even fueled real estate development with alley in-fill projects.

After opening two more coffee-inspired community centers, including one with beer and wine options, founders and fans petitioned to bring soul to the new terminal at Sacramento International Airport. After all, there's a very comforting feeling in enjoying a cup of coffee just before leaving on a trip (or coming home from one).

Throughout the Spring, I'll introduce you to more neighbors who shape experiential travel and tourism in Sacramento. Sign up to get the latest issue of our complimentary SCVB visitor guide.

The Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau has the privilege of hosting meeting planning professionals and conference delegates from throughout the United States. Shortly after their flight arrives and luggage claimed, one of the most common requests we've received from out of state visitors is 'Where is the nearest In-N-Out?'

In-N-Out (2900 Del Paso Road, Sacramento, Calif. 95834 // 1-800-786-1000 // www.in-n-out.com ) is only 10 minutes from the Sacramento International Airport, en route to dowtown and Sacramento meeting facilities. It's typically open from 10:30 AM to 1 AM.

This California institution has a cult following because it quickly serves up high-quality burgers, fries, and shakes from a streamlined menu... as well as a not-so-secret menu of variations like 'animal style' or '4x4'. Look for the marquis and signature crossed palm trees.

The second most common request is 'Where is See's Candies?'

It's 10 minutes from In-N-Out! Located in downtown Sacramento, See's Candies (1009 L Street, Sacramento, Calif. 95814 // 916-443-4497 // www.sees.com) faces the California State Capitol, which is only a block from the Sacramento Convention Center and downtown hotels.  

This California original has its own devotees as well. In fact, the company was one of Warren Buffett's earliest purchases! Our East Coast and international visitors are very fond of the chocolates, peanut brittle, and other candies. They often buy them by the pound to take home for gifts -- or for themselves! And locals are almost guaranteed to receive See's from family, friends, even business partners during year-end holidays.

Got a California exclusive you want to check out during your stay in the capital, Sacramento? Contact the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau to ask us.

Last issue, we looked at using a convention center. This month, we look at using self-contained properties, particularly those located away from the downtown core.

The advantages of a one hotel conference are obvious, number one being that your attendees typically need only travel down an elevator and the length of a hallway to get to their meeting rooms and events. Two, if your budget is tight rates may be lower and parking is either free or lower cost because these properties aren't located in the downtown core.

One such example is Sacramento Point West Marketplace, a collection of Sacramento area hotels - Hilton, Doubletree by Hilton, Marriott, Woodlake (former Radisson) - all with substantial meeting space under their roofs, and Cal Expo, a 350-acre venue. The properties have plenty of parking available. They're located next to shopping, low to mid-price dining options and family-friendly attractions.

Furthermore, the area is a 10-minute drive to downtown Sacramento, nearby attractions and Sacramento International Airport.

Hobby, fraternal, social and similar type groups are often good fits for the all under one roof conventions. For example, Sacramento has hosted several model train groups at hotels. There's ample space to display working model train displays, retail items and hold seminars.  Plus, there are comfortable sitting areas throughout the hotel for the members to congregate and socialize.

This doesn't mean, of course, your attendees never leave the property. Fraternal and social groups often look for fun things to do in Sacramento for day trips, such as winery visits, or post convention trips to places like Yosemite.

If you're not sure what kind of meeting space you need or don't have the time and resources to research hotels, contact the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau for assistance. We'll find out what your needs are and help you select the right hotel. Also, we can provide convention and meeting services, such as custom microsites to help build attendance or promotional materials to round out your conference.  

Contact Sarah Atilano (satilano@cityofsacramento.org) to help you create a great conference under one roof. 

You don't need to be a CEO or CFO to debate whether a conference app justifies its cost. We recently received estimates from $750 to $20,000! Like you, your convention delegates want meeting information that is convenient and easy to find.

The Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) has collaborated with Lambda Alpha International to create a microsite that communicates logistics, schedules, off-site events, and interactive maps for its upcoming Land Economics Weekend. The page is optimized for PC users... but smartphone users -- both iPhone and Android fans -- can access the same beneficial information about your event!

Our microsites cost much less than apps; planners simply book a minimum number of room nights. More importantly, our microsites save planners time. These customized sites are immediately viewable across all platforms.

In contrast, apps need to be re-designed to meet requirements of each platform or operating system. Then they go through a lengthy process to get approved for display in app stores... and delegates have to search for them.    



More and more planners are finding value in this convention service. The one-stop source draws together details about downtown Sacramento hotels, dining, tourist attractions, maps, and the calendar of events Sacramento365.com.  

Contact the Convention Services Dept. to learn more about developing a microsite to spur a gold rush to your next conference or trade show in Sacramento!

This Week: Sink Your Teeth into Festive Fall Fun
Email support@sacramento365.com to get the Top 10 Events Newsletter delivered to your inbox.

		Film: Sac Horror Film Fest Colonial Theatre Oct 20-Oct 23 Thurs-Sun, Times Vary The festival screens all things horror including features, shorts, documentaries, music videos, trailers, and animations.
		Music: K.D. Lang & The Siss Boom Bang Mondavi Center - Jackson Hall Oct 20 Thurs 8pm From the very beginning, K.D. Lang's voice has commanded attention, displaying her versatility, infectious spirit, and rare talent song after beautiful song.
		Kids & Fam: Safe & Super Halloween Fairytale Town Oct 21-Oct 29 Fri & Sat 5pm-9pm Four nights of Potter-themed fun in the world of Harry Potter and friends. Trick or treat as you search for the remaining horcruxes.
		Festivals: Beats & Lumpia II Sol Collective Oct 21 Fri 6pm-Midnight Filipino American emcees/rappers, vocalists, deejays/turntablists, dancers, visual artists, and more. Included with admission is lumpia!
		Festivals: Sacramento Aloha Festival Cal Expo Oct 22 Sat 10am-5pm The inaugural Festival features Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander exhibits, workshops, presentations, arts and crafts, merchandise, food, performances, music, and a hula competition.
		Comedy: Chris Tucker Memorial Auditorium Oct 22 Sat 7:30pm A limber, wiry fellow with a high-pitched voice and a delivery as fast as a mosquito's wing beats, Chris Tucker seems energy incarnate.
		Dance: Dracula Community Center Theater Oct 22-Oct 28 Thurs-Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2pm Dance becomes the perfect vehicle for the sensual story of love beyond the grave in Sacramento Ballet's powerful and dramatic production.
		Sacramento Nightlife: 3rd Annual Vampire Ball Café Americain Oct 22 Sat 8pm-2am Meet the Dracula cast of characters as they interact with guests, showing them all about their master's castle. Plus, enjoy three bars, a frightening dungeon, outdoor graveyard, two DJs, two dance areas, and some incredible elements to make you feel as if you are in Romania at Castle Dracula.
		Kids & Fam: Capitol Family Fun Day California State Capitol - West Steps Oct 23 Sun 10am-2pm Trick or treat your way to a healthy lifestyle! Join this fun and free event to promote safe and healthy children and families.
		Music: Lord of the Rings In Concert Power Balance Pavilion Oct 23 Sun 6pm Music of Middle-earth is brought to life by the Munich Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Chorale, & Phoenix Boys Choir as Peter Jackson's complete epic is shown.

 
Sacramento365.com News

Join Sac365 on Twitter & Facebook to get the day-to-day scoop on Sacramento's happenings.

How are you celebrating Artober?

October is National Arts & Humanities month, and Sacramento is celebrating in a big way this year.

Check our Artober listings & find out what's happening!

Featured Local Artist of the Month: Brooke Walker-Knoblich



Learn about painter Brooke Walker-Knoblich in her Featured Artist Profile.

Thank you for your support of Sacramento365.com!

Sacramento365.com, along with the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, is honored to have won the award for Arts/Business Partnership at the Arts & Business Council's Prelude to the Season last week!

Sacramento365.com was also recently voted #2 "Best Sacramento website" in Sacramento News & Review's "Best of Sacramento" contest. Thank you for your support!

Want the chance for more discounts or free tickets to shows?
Sacramento365.com does regular ticket giveaways on our Facebook fan page. Become a fan to be notified of deals, discounts, and the chance to win free tickets to events!

With four different major freeways that flow into downtown Sacramento, the Sacramento Convention Center is a very popular meeting facility among meeting planners who have a significant proportion of drive-in attendees.

Unfortunately this can create a parking and transportation puzzle. Dare I say, 'Nightmare?' While Rush Hour may be a fun board game, such logistics issues are no laughing matter. 

Organizers of a series of eight annual citywide conferences sought the expertise and services of the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB).

These meetings have gathered more than 40,000 delegates over eight (nearly consecutive) weekends. This requires about 3,000 parking spaces a day! The SCVB works closely with city parking services, private operators, and motorcoach companies, to ensure these delegates are sitting in productive educational sessions -- not traffic.

Have a specific problem during the planning of your meeting, convention or trade show? Don't fret! Ask about the convention and meeting services the SCVB can offer you and your delegates.

Did You Know?

• ... the average-sized hotel purchases more products in one week than 100 California families do in a year?
• ... the hospitality industry spends $3.7 billion dollars a year on energy? Electricity use accounts for 60 to 70% of the utility costs of a typical hotel.
• ... that 2% of California’s food waste comes from the hotel and lodging industry? That’s 112,000 tons per year! This food waste can be composted or donated to charities.
• ... that hotel waste can be as high as 30 pounds per room per day? As much as 80% of these materials can be recycled.
• ... the typical hotel uses 218 gallons of water per day per occupied room? Water-efficient fixtures can reduce water and sewer bills by 30%.

 
Green Lodging Program

In 2004 California Integrated Waste Management Board created the Green Lodging Program to bring together the lodging industry and state travelers, to protect the environment by diverting waste from landfills, conserving energy and water, and providing cleaner air to breathe. The Department of General Services (DGS) assumed the operation in September 2008.

The program is solely for hotels and was developed to help the hospitality industry minimize its waste and conserve energy and natural resources. The program provides the industry with practical suggestions for sustainability practices that could improve the hotels' bottom line. The California Green Lodging Program is also a way for travelers, including those on state business, to select properties that have been certified as an environmentally preferable lodging option. These travelers can have confidence in their green choice, as certified properties have been verified by program staff.

Click here to learn how a hotel receives a Green Lodging Program certification.


Sacramento Green Hotels

Seventeen Sacramento area hotels currently participate in the Green Lodging Program. The hotels along with the Sacramento Convention Center have taken proactive steps to help make your meetings and conventions a little more green. Feel good about selecting a destination that provides cosmopolitan amenities in a sustainable way. Discover Gold and Green in Sacramento.

To view the Sacramento hotel Green Lodging Program participants, click here. 


Information provided by Department of General Services.

Since 2006 the Sacramento Convention Center (SCC) and the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) have joined the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District’s (SMUD) Commercial Greenergy Program to offset the electricity used to host meetings and conferences with environmentally friendly renewable energy – such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and hydroelectric energy. The use of renewable energy leaves no footprint, thereby minimizing negative effects conventions may have on the environment.

Sacramento Convention Center’s Tips for Hosting Sustainable Meetings

• Choose a sustainable venue like the SCC that recycles, donates food, incorporates locally grown produce and organic food into its menus.
•  Choose a venue like the SCC that is rich in ambiance, featuring floor to ceiling windows, great year round outdoor seating, stunning art work and sculptures throughout, thus requiring less decorations or enhancements which can help to save you money and reduce your carbon footprint.
• Opt to use the Classique Catering’s china and linen or biodegradable plates, cups and flatware.
• Conserve paper by posting event materials to your web site or distributing them on flash drives.
• Purchase name badges that are reusable and collect them at the end of the meeting for use at the next one.
• Avoid dating promotional items and reuse overages at future meetings.
• Have water served from pitchers rather than plastic bottles.
• Encourage attendees to enjoy environmentally friendly activities including walks around the State Capitol or day trips to Historic Old Sacramento.
• Encourage exhibitors to bring a realistic amount of promotional materials. Have them recycle unused portions rather than dispose of them.
• Encourage exhibitors to use environmentally friendly packing materials (i.e. cardboard).

 For more information www.sacramentoconventioncenter.com/community/green or call (916) 808‐5291.

• Request pitchers of water from the host property instead of bottled water.
• Request china at all food & beverage functions. Avoid disposable food containers.
• Do not provide handouts for the educational sessions. Instead place handouts on a  website or on a thumb drive.
• Send all confirmations and information electronically.
• Do not provide printed agendas. Instead have a dedicated monitor at the registration desk, or post agenda on electronic boards.
• Request healthy meals using locally grown or organic food.
• Any printed paper accumulated during the event should be recycled.
• Ask the host property not to provide pads and paper during the educational sessions.
• Collect name badge holders for recycling and reuse at all other events throughout the year.
• All event signage should be recycled and/or reused. Stay away from polystyrene or petrochemicals in décor, packaging, or signage.
• Event bags should be made from recyclable material, which can be reused after the event for groceries, etc. 
• Encourage attendees to carpool, bike, or use public transportation to event.
• Have a solid count of attendees to avoid wasteful over spending and excess. Consider charging for attendance to get a more solid attendee count.
• If handouts are necessary, have them printed on both sides of the paper.
• Partner with a local charity or community/environmental project and collect funds through a raffle.
• Avoid balloons as décor. Instead think about having potted plants that can be replanted.
• Choose venues that are recognized as green properties:

The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) has paid staff members, but many of its functions are performed by tireless volunteers throughout the world. The international group has a national convention every year -- but this July the capital promises to host an unconventional convention, Extra 2011 West!

Since Sacramento has long been a railroad town, the local organizing committee wanted to pull out all the stops. They were thinking BIG like the founders of the transcontinental railroad! The Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to help to provide the following convention services to our NMRA guests:

• Housing: Passkey GroupMAX^TM allows delegates to book rooms online or over the phone. Reservation acknowledgements are immediately sent to an e-mail address (or fax number, if provided). Otherwise, they will be mailed the next business day.

• Promotion and Publicity: Boost attendance with save the date postcards / premailers and other pre-convention publicity resources. Or pick tools from these promotional materials. 

• Spouse / Guest Programs: Not every spouse or travel companion shares a passion for scale-model trains. Seriously. The SCVB arranged spouse / guest programs for visitors to experience the good life Sacramentans enjoy year-round. Grange restaurant capitalizes on its location across from Chavez Plaza, home to Wednesday farmers' markets & Friday concerts. Its signature 'Follow the Chef' experience includes a market tour, tips on selecting and preparing fresh (and at times unfamiliar) produce, and a three-course meal at the chef's own table.   

Another extremely popular activity for friends and/or family members of convention delegates is shopping. Suprised, no? The SCVB prepared 200-300 customized swag bags for NMRA's special guests. Travel companions received information as well as some promotional gifts from area retailers, malls and outlets.

Furthermore visitors are steps away from exploring midtown, a neighborhood known for independent businesses and local flavor.


If you're a meeting professional who heavily relies on the kindness of volunteer association members to make your event a true success, why not recruit Sacramento's convention services team? We're here to take your event to a golden standard of excellence.

This Week: Masterful Events for You
Email support@sacramento365.com to get the Top 10 Events Newsletter delivered to your inbox.

		Museums: History Live Sutter's Fort Ongoing-Aug 15 Sat-Wed 10am-5pm A vibrant interactive historical experience: hands on activities with docents in period clothes, meet and talk to those who made California what it is today. Find out more>
		Sports & Rec: World Masters Athletic Championships 2011 Sac State/Sac City College/ARC July 6-July 17 Dates & times vary This is the Men's & Women's Masters Track & Field Outdoor World Championships, including a marathon, race walk, & cross country run. Find out more>
		Music: Frisco Project Tsakopoulos Library Galleria July 6 Wed 7pm The Frisco Project, featuring Abel Sanchez, is an all-star revue of veteran musicians who contributed to the sounds, styles, and music associated with the '60s and '70s throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Find out more>
		Kids & Fam: Twilight Thursdays Sacramento Zoo Ongoing-July 28 Thurs 5:30pm-8pm Each Thursday see live music and a car show & enjoy dinner and drink specials at the Zoo's Kampala Café. This Thursday features music by Because (Beatles tribute band) & car show featuring British Cars. Find out more>
		Special Events: National Train Show Sacramento Convention Center July 8-July 10 Fri Noon-6pm; Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 10am-5pm Fun for the whole family--from littlest engineer to most experienced Model Railroader. Find out more>
		Theatre: Shorts & Shorters Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre July 8-July 24 Fri & Sat 7pm; Sun 2pm The program consists of a number of original monologues and short plays by local playwrights directed by local directors. Find out more>
		Film: Sacramento Japanese Film Festival Crest Theatre July 8-July 10 Fri-Sun, Times Vary The 7th Annual Sacramento Japanese Film Festival expands this year to six screenings. Find out more>
		2nd Saturday Activities: -California People Capital Public Radio, 6pm-8pm -Jose Di Gregario. New Paintings. The Urban Hive, 6pm-9pm -Life is a Journey. This is Mine. Union Hall Gallery, 6pm-9pm See more 2nd Saturday events>
		Sacramento Nightlife: The Siren Show: Late Nite Varietease Harlow's July 9 Sat 10pm A night of classic striptease, irreverent comedy, circus and variety acts! Find out more>
		Music: Dead Winter Carpenters Torch Club July 10 Sun 8pm Emerging from Northern California's fertile music scene, Dead Winter Carpenters is a rollicking, high-energy, Americana-roots infused five-piece band. Find out more>

 
Sacramento365.com News

Follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook to get day-to-day scoop on Sacramento's happenings.

Featured Local Artist of the Month: Nicholas Wray

Learn about Sacramento's urban photographer, Nicholas Wray, in his Featured Artist Profile.

Sac365's Weekly Deal: Total Sports Magazine 1-Year Subscription, $12 ($25 value)!
Are you a Sacramento sports fanatic scrambling to find sports news from multiple sources? Total Sports Magazine makes your life easier--find all your sports news in one magazine.

Total Sports Magazine one-year subscription, only $12 (a $25 value)! Snag this deal Tuesday-Friday only, on Sacramento365.com's Weekly Deal Page.

Do you have an event coming up? Make sure it's on Sacramento365.com, the Sacramento Calendar of Events.

• For one day only -- July 3, 2011 -- the Train Collectors Association, Northern California Division will give non-members a sneak peek. Don't miss this fun model train exhibition at the Sacramento Convention Center.  

• July 8-10, 2011, the National Model Railroad Association presents the National Train Show. This is the industry’s most respected model train show and trade exposition. See all aspects of model railroading including the newest, unique products and services from the U.S. and around the world. The event will cover 134,000 sq. ft. of space, including 35,700 sq. ft. featuring extraordinary operating model train displays.  

• September 10-11, 2011, marks the return of the annual California Capital Airshow! Fans of all ages, prepare to be entertained and educated by exhilarating jet demonstrations, world-renowned aerobatic performers, jet trucks, warbirds, and more at Mather Airport.

• October 7-9, 2011, rev your engines at the 10th Annual Golden State Street Rod Nationals Plus, organized by the National Street Rod Association. Feast your eyes on more than 1,400 street rods, customs, muscle cars and street machines at Cal Expo Fairgrounds. This is the city’s largest vintage car show. It has plenty for the family from games and live entertainment to women's world arts & crafts and a ladies' tea.

Why all this hoopla from regional business leaders—the SCVB included—to keep the Kings in Sacramento and to build a new sports & entertainment complex? 

Is it about the Kings needing a pretty new arena to bounce their balls in and make more money—or is it about the Sacramento region generating jobs, increasing the hotel transient occupancy tax, and providing sales tools to local companies, all while increasing the bottom line of hundreds of local businesses?

Why can’t it be about both? What’s so bad about a scenario where everybody benefits?

It’s no secret that Sacramento is mired in a heated debate on the merits of professional basketball and the creation of a new regional sports & entertainment complex. And when arguing those collective merits with the Kings as the lead motivation, some people answer with a resounding NO! After all, if you’re not a basketball fan, why would you care what type of facility they play in—or if they even play at all? 

But that argument misses the point of what a new sports and entertainment complex would mean for Sacramento.

It’s About so Much More Than Basketball. 

A new sports and entertainment complex, built in the right location, serves as a catalyst for new development.  

Specific examples from other cities show that downtown Phoenix saw a 20 percent increase at arts and cultural venues after America West Arena opened, not to mention $2.5 billion in development investment in their Central City. The San Francisco Giants pay the City of San Francisco millions of dollars in rent and taxes annually for AT&T Park, which has also acted as a catalyst for development in a previously underutilized area of that city. Coors Field in Denver brought not only a world-class stadium but also an investment in restaurants, shops, hotels and offices that revived a pre-stadium downtown depression. And the revival of the neighborhood surrounding the HP Pavilion in San Jose post-arena construction is nothing short of amazing. 

All that aside, and taking the construction of a new facility out of the discussion, you’d still have tremendous value from professional sports in Sacramento.  

A recent article in the Sacramento Business Journal estimated that the loss of the Kings would top $100 million for this region. That same article noted that the Kings provide 773 full and part-time jobs for area residents, fund the largest contract for off-duty Sheriff officers in the region and have donated $19 million to local charities in just 11 years.

How about the game night business that the restaurants in Natomas do? What about a few years ago when the team was one of the best in the league? How many bars—from Elk Grove to Roseville—were packed with jubilant Kings fans buying drinks and food while they cheered the team on—and how many tax dollars did that generate for local governments that was used to pay for services utilized by the residents of those regional cities? 

What other businesses did the team touch? Uniforms for arena staff, legal services paid for by the team to local law firms, chiropractors, taxis and limos companies, sales for local beer distributors, real estate agents and the list goes on and on.

Sacramento Kings Good For Tourism

What about tourism? With about 40 rooms used by the visiting team per game (sometimes for two nights) for 41 home games the numbers add up to more than $320,000 spent on hotel rooms and transient occupancy taxes.  

That’s a decent number but it pales in comparison to the $2 billion generated annually by visitors to Sacramento. Our ability to attract business and leisure travelers relies heavily on the image that our city portrays to the rest of the world—and professional sports helps to create that image and identity internationally on our behalf. 

Win or lose, the name “Sacramento” appears in newspapers throughout this country for the majority of the year. That’s exposure for this region, which translates into visitors, which benefits the people who live here.

It’s also about proactively leveraging the team to generate more business. The SCVB, for example, has attended Kings games in Chicago and Washington, DC, in an effort to meet with various national association groups. At those games, we hosted prospective clients and had upwards of three hours to talk to them about bringing their convention business to Sacramento. 

In just two seasons, the SCVB booked four convention groups that delivered more than $4 million worth of economic impact to our city. We also generated leads that, if closed, will provide an additional $10 million in economic impact. The tax revenues generated from those groups (or any convention group, for that matter) goes into the City’s general fund which is then used  to improve roadways, build new parks and hire police and fire officers.  

But it’s certainly not just the SCVB that leverages the appeal of the team. Local companies buy suites for the opportunity to conduct business while at the game. They buy sponsorships to increase the visibility of their business. They do these things to increase sales and grow profits—which in turn creates more jobs for those of us who live here.

Wanting to keep the Kings or build a new sports and entertainment complex in Sacramento is not about paying for a team facility that is owned by billionaires. It is about investing in Sacramento, growing local business and tourism dollars to improve the resident’s quality of life—all while continuing to foster regional pride. Whether you’re a Kings fan or not, professional sports make your life better if you live in Sacramento.