Sacramento Hotels Anticipate Busy March with Golden 1 Center Events

Packed schedule of basketball tournaments, concerts, and Kings games expected to drive high hotel occupancy downtown

Mar. 15, 2026 at 5:22am

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Sacramento's hotels are looking forward to a busy March as the Golden 1 Center hosts a packed lineup of events, including CIF state basketball championships, concerts, Kings games, and the upcoming Women's March Madness tournament. Jeroen Gerrese, general manager of the Sheraton Grand and president of the Sacramento Hotel Association, says the demand for hotel rooms is "fantastic" as the events are expected to generate millions in economic impact for the city.

Why it matters

The influx of events and visitors to Sacramento's downtown area is a major boost for the local economy, benefiting hotels, restaurants, shops, and other businesses. The high hotel occupancy rates underscore the city's continued growth and the demand for more hotel development to accommodate visitors.

The details

The Golden 1 Center is hosting a variety of events this month, including CIF state basketball championships, concerts, Kings games, and the upcoming Women's March Madness tournament. Jeroen Gerrese, the general manager of the Sheraton Grand and president of the Sacramento Hotel Association, says the demand for hotel rooms is "fantastic" as the events are expected to generate millions in economic impact. Gerrese notes that when downtown hotels fill up, the demand spreads out to other hotels in the area, benefiting the entire hospitality industry.

  • High school basketball wraps up on Saturday night (March 22, 2026).
  • Kings games and concerts are scheduled through Thursday night (March 27, 2026).
  • The Women's March Madness tournament is set to kick off on March 27, 2026.

The players

Jeroen Gerrese

The general manager of the Sheraton Grand and president of the Sacramento Hotel Association.

Golden 1 Center

The downtown Sacramento arena hosting a variety of events this month, including basketball tournaments, concerts, and Kings games.

Visit Sacramento

The organization that said the March Madness tournament has historically generated millions in economic impact for the city.

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What they’re saying

“It's fantastic. What happens is that on one bookend, the Golden One, on the other side you have the Convention Center.”

— Jeroen Gerrese, General Manager, Sheraton Grand; President, Sacramento Hotel Association (KCRA)

“Incredible. I mean, you know, to be part of that. You know, we did it a couple of years ago and it was great. Coming back now, the demand is fantastic.”

— Jeroen Gerrese, General Manager, Sheraton Grand; President, Sacramento Hotel Association (KCRA)

“When downtown fills up, it kind of spreads out. So, then it goes to Arden and it goes to the other hotels. So, everybody benefits.”

— Jeroen Gerrese, General Manager, Sheraton Grand; President, Sacramento Hotel Association (KCRA)

What’s next

The high school basketball championships wrap up on Saturday night, followed by Kings games and concerts through Thursday night. The Women's March Madness tournament is set to kick off on March 27.

The takeaway

The packed event schedule at the Golden 1 Center is expected to drive high hotel occupancy rates in downtown Sacramento, providing a major economic boost for the city's hospitality industry and underscoring the continued growth and development of the region.