Sacramento having not been named to host the NBA All-Star Game is puzzling. Seriously, what do we have to do to get the game? At this point, it feels like an insult that Adam Silver and NBA owners won’t award us the weekend festivities.
With the league announcing the LA Clippers not-open-yet Intuit Dome will host 2026 All-Star Weekend, it seems like Sacramento has no hope of landing this showpiece event. And before you start with your, “All-Star games don’t matter” spiel, these are hugely exciting events for the local community. Not to mention massive revenue generators.
The most annoying thing about Sacramento’s snub is that there is legitimately no good reason for it. Dr. Dre shouts us out in California Love. By the way, Sacraments still go crazy anytime they hear that part of the song. Also, Ludacris shouts out 916 in Area Codes. But the NBA doesn’t show us love or drop by our area code. That’s, well, ludicrous.
It’s not like we’re talking about hosting NBA All-Star weekend in Wichita Falls. Sacramento is the country’s 20th largest media market with a passionate basketball fanbase. More importantly, we have Golden 1 Center, one of the league’s best arenas. You’re telling me Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland is better? Absolutely not.
What’s more annoying is the number of repeat hosts the NBA has named over the years. Staples Center (I’m not calling it the other name) has hosted three All-Star games. Same with Smoothie King Center. The Bay Area will have gotten two All-Star games in 25 years when the Chase Center hosts next season.
The big argument against Sacramento is that the NBA All-Star Game host city needs to be a destination. People citing this will point to Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans and even that ill-fated 2007 game in Las Vegas. I mean the Thomas & Mack Center. Come on.
Anyway, I see your point and raise you this. Look at some of the All-Star city selections in recent times. Indianapolis is smaller than Sacramento and has a worse arena. Charlotte? Same on both fronts. And then there is Salt Lake City.
It is insulting that Salt Lake City was chosen as an All-Star city before Sacramento. It’s smaller and the Delta Center can’t hold a candle to the G1C. More importantly, Salt Lake City is in no way, shape, or form a better destination than Sacramento, and I find Sacramento to be one of the most boring places on planet Earth.
Salt Lake City is basically Reno with all the fun parts removed. And at this point, Reno probably has a better chance of landing NBA All-Star weekend before Sacramento does the way things are playing out.
Look, I fully understand the NBA not coming here while the Sacramento Kings were playing Arco Arena. It wasn’t very good even when it was brand new. But today, with Golden 1 Center. With a city that would roll out the red carpet in a way the league has likely never seen. And with fans who would love to see all the festivities. There is no good reason not to have NBA All-Star Weekend in the California capital.
Come on, Adam Silver. Come on owners. It’s time to do the right thing. Dr. Dre once asked us, “Sacramento, where you at?”. Well, I ask, NBA, where you at? Because if you ain’t hosting the all-star game in Sacramento, then you might as well not have the event at all.
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