Sacramento is California’s capital, and as it’s situated between the Bay Area and the Sierra Nevada mountains, it’s also known for being one of the prettiest cities in a beautiful state.
Sacramento residents love exploring the city’s arts and culture scene, its many great restaurants and, in true California fashion, rooting for their favorite sports teams (Go Kings!).
If you’re a sports-head who’s considering moving to Sacramento, there are a number of neighborhoods you may want to consider. Check out this breakdown of the best Sacramento neighborhoods for sports fans:
Natomas
Natomas is a neighborhood in Northwest Sacramento, and it’s where you’ll find Sleep Train Arena, the venue of Sacramento’s NBA team, the Sacramento Kings. Also worth noting, the Kings aren’t the only entertainment you’ll find at Sleep Train Arena—the venue is known for hosting some amazing concerts and other shows as well.
West Sacramento
Raley Field, home of the Sacramento River Cats, is located in West Sacramento. The River Cats are Sacramento’s Triple-A baseball team and a recent affiliate of the MLB’s Giants, which call nearby San Francisco home.
Technically its own city, West Sacramento is separated from Sacramento by the Sacramento River that runs between the cities. West Sacramento was voted one of America’s “Most Livable” cities by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2014, and it’s a great community for kids and families.
Downtown
Sacramento’s downtown doesn’t have a sports stadium yet, but the city began construction on a new arena for the Sacramento Kings in August in the Downtown Plaza area. The arena is set to be completed by 2016, when the team will begin to play there instead of at their current home in Natomas.
If you’re looking for a non-arena spot to watch games, the Downtown Sacramento area also has a ton of sports bars. You’ll find sports games ranging from rugby to college basketball to NFL football in Downtown Sacramento, so it’s a great place to eat, drink, be merry and watch sports.
East Sacramento
The Sacramento Hornets of California State University, Sacramento, play at Hornet Stadium in the neighborhood locals call “East Sac.” The Sacramento State campus is located in East Sac, so college sports fans have the opportunity to see football, basketball and other college athletics in the area.
And for the people who like to pick up a football and play a couple of tackle games with friends every so often, East Sac is a great Sacramento neighborhood to live in. East Sac has a few nice parks where you and your family or friends can go for a pickup game every now and then. McKinley Park is a local favorite, with plenty of space to play and explore, along with tennis courts and a pool.
Davis
Davis is a city about 15 miles west of Sacramento, but Sacramento residents love going there to root for the University of California, Davis, Aggies. The City of Davis also has some great parks and recreation areas, and it’s a quick drive from West Sacramento.
Sacramento has several vibrant and exciting neighborhoods, so if you’re a sports fan, it’s a great place to live!