Following a disrupted Rod Wave concert at the Golden 1 Center, employees and neighboring businesses are voicing their concerns over security issues and the absence of clear communication protocols in chaotic scenarios.
Caught off guard by an unauthorized crowd rush before the scheduled event, staff at Golden 1 Center reported feeling unprepared for the disturbance, raising concerns ahead of the Sacramento Kings home game on Monday evening. Many in the community had anticipated such issues, as some fans had been in line since 5 p.m. on Friday, only to experience delayed entry and what they perceived as gunshots, which police later identified as fireworks, according to abc10.
Downtown businesses, which flourish in the crowds drawn by Golden 1 Center events, are also taking notice and making changes—KCRA reported that Hanna Noelle from Tru Encompass Beauty expressed disappointment in the community's reaction and is planning new safety measures, including staff briefings to prepare for any future incidents.
"I think that DOCO should have definitely had more staff at the time and just been more communicative with the community to let people know what was going on to avoid that situation," Noelle told KCRA.
One specific business owner, Jillian Beaver of Lucky Gold Permanent Jewelry, stressed their concerns about safety in the Downtown Commons area, recounting her worry upon learning of the lockdown on Friday night. She highlighted an undercurrent need for increased security as DOCO is a hub of consistent activity, and safety isn't something to be taken for granted.
Sacramento police have not received any formal reports of looting, assaults, or vandalism from the Friday night turmoil—yet they affirm their commitment to bolster the security presence at large-scale events and maintain patrols in the area.
In the meantime, those directly affected by the chaos, including employees facing lockdowns and concertgoers left in uncertainty, cited miscommunication and lack of preparation as major issues that night. Guest Joshua Hamilton expressed his concerns, stating, "I feel like if we would have had communication on what was going on, I feel most of that could have been prevented," Hamilton conveyed to abc10.
