Kings Announce Natomas Arena to Be Surge Hospital, Donate $250K Amid COVID-19

The Sacramento Kings are increasing their efforts to help combat the spread of the coronavirus.

In a joint statement with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services on Friday, the team announced it is converting its former arena in Natomas into a surge hospital to treat those suffering from COVID-19. Additionally, the Kings are donating $250,000 to essential services in the Sacramento area, as well as 100,000 medical masks to state and city health agencies. 

Kings owner Vivek Ranadive issued a statement regarding the organization's decision:

"On behalf of the entire Kings family, our hearts are with all who have been affected by this pandemic. California always leads the nation and the world, and we applaud Governor [Gavin] Newsom’s strong and decisive leadership to keep Californians healthy and safe during this crisis. His deft guidance and preparation serve as a shining example for leaders across America. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the medical professionals and frontline workers risking their lives every day and making tremendous sacrifices to protect us and provide essential services. Our deepest thanks go out to all of the local public health experts and elected officials, including Mayor Steinberg and Councilmember Ashby, working to safeguard the community during this unprecedented time."

Sports venues around the country have begun repurposing their spaces to help fight the pathogen. In South Florida, Marlins Park and Hard Rock Stadium have been converted to drive-thru testing centers for those with COVID-19 symptoms. In Chicago, the United Center has become a logistics and staging hub to help state and local authorities organize response efforts in Illinois. 

The Kings' use of their old building is just the latest example of teams providing support as the virus spreads. In California, the situation has continued to escalate with 11,339 total positive cases of COVID-19 reported and 253 deaths as of Friday, per a CNN tally. 

Across the NBA, players and teams have been finding ways to contribute to the fight against the coronavirus. Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker has launched a limited-edition clothing line, the proceeds of which will benefit the city's food bank, while his teammate Ben McLemore has worked to source respirator masks for hospitals in need. 

Also on Friday, members of the Philadelphia 76ers, including Joel Embiid and two of the team's managing partners, donated $1.3 million to Penn Medicine in an effort to ensure health care workers are able to receive testing. 

The NBA has been at the forefront of the response to the virus in the sports world. The league was the first to suspend action on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive, and the NHL, MLB and NCAA quickly followed suit. Additionally, the coronavirus has infected numerous players, from Kevin Durant and Marcus Smart to Donovan Mitchell and Christian Wood. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his appreciation for the Kings' generosity:

"These days, our state's soaring spirit is on full display—with Californians from every walk of life standing together, even while staying at home. The State of California is working with the Kings to repurpose the team's former home to help treat COVID-19 patients and meet the coming surge in demand for hospital space. This facility, which for decades brought joy to the lives of Californians, will now be in the business of saving lives. I applaud the Kings and all the federal, state and local officials who worked in concert to make it happen."

Additionally, the surge hospital will allow for game-day employees at Golden 1 Center—the current home of the Kings—to accrue shifts while the NBA remains on hiatus. The franchise says it has continually been working to facilitate temporary employment opportunities for its part-time staffers.