Abandoned NBA Arena Where Lebron Made His Debut [Part 3]

Arco Arena (or Sleep Train Arena) is a legendary NBA venue that's been sitting mostly empty and abandoned since the Sacramento Kings built their new arena, the Golden 1 Center in 2016.

This building was host to Lebron James' debut in the NBA, a bunch of Michael Jordan vs Mitch Richmond battles, Mike Bibby game winning shots, Chris Webber dunks, and more. Magic Johnson got his 10,000th assist in this arena, the 1993 Royal Rumble was here, and everyone from the Rolling Stones to Justin Bieber performed at Arco Arena aka Sleep Train Arena in it's decades of history.

We explore the whole venue including locker rooms, the court, offices and the infamous Clown Tunnel aka Clown Cave hidden in the depths of the arena that would have connected it to the abandoned stadium project: ARCO PARK which was part 2 of this 3 part series on the Sacramento sports complex.

#urbex #abandoned #abandonedplaces #nba #sports

Join us as we explore some amazing sports history in this abandoned adventure shortly before the arena's demolition.


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vVARIETY, formerly known as The Somethin' Or Other Tour [SOOT.tv] is an adventure and tour web series about two brothers that explore and do random things. A little adventure, a little silly, a little this and a little that. From abandoned places to stadium tours to odd museums, we love to explore it all! Subscribe to us for NFL games to urban exploring abandoned places!

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[jackshotthat]

Man this takes me back. So sad to see all the rare memorabilia, old tapes of high school championships, WNBA fliers, and all that stuff was demolished with the arena. So much history there.

[officialnachosingh]

This is pretty sad as someone who grew up in Sacramento, not going to lie. I grew up watching Kings games here from 1999-2016. Went to my first game in 1999 against the Vancouver Grizzlies, saw the Kings in their hey-day in 2002-2005. Also saw a few wild events like Bobby Jackson awarded the 6th Man of the Year, witnessed John Stockton’s final game with the Jazz, some monster jams/circuses/2005 WWE Smackdown V. Raw. I saw Kevin Martin hit the game winner against Dallas in 2008, saw Tyreke Evans get awarded the Rookie of the Year in 2010. I even got to sit behind the Charlotte Bobcats bench in 2010 & made eye-contact with Michael Jordan (definitely an intimidating guy). I graduated from high school here in 2010 & a few years later had my Sacramento State graduation here in 2015. I shook DeMarcus Cousins’ hand near the training facility next door, received Carl Landry’s shoes in 2011 after a game & met Coach Paul Westphal. I saw Tyreke Evans hit that full-court shot V. the Grizzlies in Dec. 2010, met Walt Frazier in 2011, sat behind the visiting bench seeing a young Steph Curry, prime Derrick Rose and Kobe Bryant play in December 2014. I got to witness Peja Stojakovic’s jersey retirement in 2014 and got to see DeMarcus Cousins dominate the league for a few years here. These are just some of the many great memories I’ve experienced here and I know so many from this area would feel the same as this was a place where friends and family felt a lot of joy, heartbreak and memories alike. The site should have been preserved as a historical grounds but ultimately, it is what it is.

[igrojikku]

As sad as these arenas/facilities are to see abandoned. It makes me even more so happy to see somebody exploring these places, BUT the initial respect of “We don’t break anything, and leave no trace”. Loving and respecting these places should be our priority if visiting these sacred places of memory and history ❤️

[ethankeller]

I saw Ander the Giant wrestle Macho Man in 1988 among countless other games, concerts, wwf events. RIP Arco

[tombstonejones]

Stellar camera work, informative narration, and good back and forth between you two. Great video about an arena I didn't even know was still standing.

[Silenced_by_nazi_youtube]

As a former season ticket holder from like 2011-2016 this is sad to see. From seeing the the legendary early 2000s Kings here, seeing concerts, getting season tickets, getting suites, being able to play basketball here, multiple fan events, and going to the very last Kings game played at this arena, this truly was home for a good part of my youth and to my early 30s. Sad to see it go but I am glad we have Golden 1 Arena now, I just love the downtown environment and the modernness of the G1. Hope to see some playoff games here in the future.

[gamer_athletics]

That’s crazy, to think I was 10 years old attending WWE:The Bash in 2009. Was one of my only memories being in the arena

[danlim]

This is amazing. I’ve live in Sacramento my whole life, been though it all from the Kings almost leaving Sacramento to witnessing the Golden 1 Center being built from the ground up. You got the history and facts on point.

[Swampfoxtrd]

I can’t believe how much stuff was left behind. Could get some cool memorabilia in there

[jesuschristmyking]

I lived in Sactown for most of my life (916 Baby), went to many Kings games at Arco Arena. Seen the good years and the bad...but Kings fans were some of the loyalist fans in the world. There was something about that little Arena called Arco that got rocking during Kings games. I will miss it very much, kind of like Candlestick park for the SF Giants. Thanks for making this video. God Bless

[iModelTV]

A tear came to my eye watching this. A lot of those posters, game programs, single etc., I designed or worked on. Brings back memories.

[journeywithjay]

Insane explore!!!! Soooo much merch left behind, paperwork. The vhs tapes were crazy to see too. This video should blow up bigger then your charger one. Blows my mind that there's no alarms or security. I can only imagine the time you guys spent in there off camera just going through all the paperwork and stuff. The clown tunnel was beyond creepy, was just waiting on pennywise to be at the end.

[mista]

Complete nostalgia, goosebumps, happiness, mixed with a ton of sadness. Arco Arena was my home away from home for over two decades of my life growing up!
My grandparents (that raised me) both worked at Arco Arena from the mid 80's all the way up until 2006 when they retired. Because of my grandmother being in a
management position at Arco, she received season tickets for Kings games from the mid 80's all the way until she retired. I'm 39 now and was born back in 1983.
I've been to thousands of Kings games going all the way back into the 80s. I was there for Lebron James very first ever NBA game. I saw Jordan at least a dozen
times or more live at Arco Arena. I saw the LEGENDS AMONG ALL LEGENDS perform at Arco Arena over the years! I saw a young Kobe Bryant come into Arco a
hundred times and leave Sacramento fans speechless more times than I could possibly count! I was even there for the entire playoffs when the Sacramento Kings
were going after an NBA title back in 2003/2004. It doesn't end with me going to just Kings games either! I've been to dozens of concerts, dozens of Monster Truck
events, Disney on Ice, everything an Arena could possibly host.. I've been there! Even saw Garth Brooks live on back to back sold out nights and got to meet him and
hung out with Garth Brooks throughout the day and got to hang out on his Tour Bus. I've played horse and shot around on the court with C. Webber, Mitch Richmond,
and dozens of other Kings players over the years. I've been to a dozen different Christmas parties where Kings players and their families would show up with presents
for all the kids that attended the Christmas parties. Seeing Arco Arena turn into nothingness is like taking away a huge chunk of my life and burying it in a deep grave!
The memories I had at Arco Arena were amazing! So many nights of going home heart broken from a close Kings game. So many nights of losing my voice during a
Kings game where I was screaming my ass off all game! I've been in the catwalk, every elevator, the basement, the security area, the built in prison/jail cells they had
there in case any fans needed to be arrested. I've been in the tunnel that was initially built so there could be a football field connected to Arco Arena. I've been inside
every single place in Arco Arena imaginable! I used to walk the building freely as though I worked there even when there were events going on that I didn't have tickets
for! I used to love exploring the building and going into different suites and eating the food left behind from people that paid for a suite during the different events.
I know this is a ton of text but I could easily write a book on my memories of Arco Arena. Instead of babbling for another 10 minutes I'll end this with a list of all the
famous celebrities I've met over the years due to Arco Arena being my home away from home for well over 20 years of my life.

Garth Brooks
Wayne Gretzky (Even have a signed hockey stick from him!)
Chris Webber
Mitch Richmond
Spud Webb
Billy Graham
Lil Wayne
Kobe Bryant
Michael Jordan
Lebron James
The Rock
Hulk Hogan
Andre The Giant
Bone Thugs N Harmony
Britney Spears


As well as hundreds of other celebrities that I don't care to sit here and list!

[henrybauerle]

This is one of the coolest videos I've seen in a while and I'm so jealous of this experience you guys got. Thanks for sharing for NBA fans!

[bryplayz]

as someone who lives 20 minutes away from the arena, this is quite a sad moment for kings history I remember my first kings game was 2014 and they were playing the Detroit Pistons. All I can remember was the fans and how loud and loyal they were.

[jojothenoble]

I love the mix between comedy, and giving facts about what happened in the arena. Great video.

[coolbeans]

This was my happy place growing up. Kings playoff games, WCW, WWE, Slipknot and Korn concerts. I’ll miss that place. Great video!

[TheWooleybooger]

Many years of memories here. Watching the Kings during their prime, concerts etc. bonding with friends and family. I need to explore this asap

[christianlund]

This place was like home. I grew up with a dad that worked there that would take us to see the games and shows. Got to see the spurs with their amazing line up in 2012 court side. Just different seeing it all trashed. Thanks for sharing it. Really took me back

[TheGift]

I was at Kobe’s last game in Sacramento at ARCO.

That clip of him gave me chills.