Today, Golden 1 Center announced that the arena has received the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s (GBAC) STAR Facility Accreditation. Recognized as a gold standard, GBAC STAR is a performance-based accreditation program that means a facility has established the practices, procedures and protocols to prepare, respond, and recover from outbreaks and pandemics. GBAC is a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.
“The health and safety of our guests and team members is our utmost priority especially as we look toward the future of confidently welcoming fans back in the arena,” said Sacramento Kings President of Business Operations John Rinehart. “This accreditation shows our commitment to achieving the highest standards of cleaning and sanitization.”
To achieve this accreditation, Golden 1 Center committed to implementing and maintaining a comprehensive system of enhanced cleaning, sanitization and infectious disease prevention that follows the program’s criteria, including risk assessment and mitigation, standard operating procedures, personal protective equipment, personnel training, and emergency preparedness and response. The arena has a professional ABM housekeeping team that is familiar with the facility and has created a COVID Task Force to oversee and review all policies and procedures for best practices. In addition, the cleaning and sanitation team has gone through extensive medical grade training on new chemicals and processes helping to drive key elements of the arena’s reopening. This training was completed as the team converted the Kings former arena into a surge hospital. The housekeeping staff maintained medical grade cleanliness while utilizing appropriate PPE for an active virus environment.
Facilities with the GBAC STAR demonstrate that they have proven systems in place to limit the impact of future outbreaks, allowing cleaning staff to do their jobs safely and effectively, and assuring guests that the facility is implementing the highest cleaning and disinfecting standards. The program relies on GBAC’s comprehensive training, which teaches the proper protocols, correct sanitization techniques and cleaning best practices for infectious agents such as COVID-19.
Since its opening in 2016, Golden 1 Center has seamlessly blended technology, sustainability, and entertainment – becoming known as the most technologically advanced and most sustainable arena in the world. Within its first year of operation, not only did the arena achieve LEED Platinum Designation – placing it in the top 3% of all buildings certified, but is still awarded nationally as a world-class sports and entertainment venue, including recognition as the 2017 Best Elite Facility of Venue Award by Sports Technology Awards, the 2017 Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal and the 2017 Best Project in Sports/Entertainment by ENR California.
