Hotel and Accommodations
Guests coming from out of town are encouraged to make reservations for accommodations as early as possible. Local hotels in and around Davis (located in Yolo County) are a great way to stay close to your graduates. Hotel accommodations surrounding the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento are another option.
Solano County Visitor Bureaus (also, see City of Dixon)
Sacramento (city and county)
Golden 1 Center surrounding hotels
Undergraduate Commencement Information
Admission to the Ceremony/Ticket Information
Undergraduate Commencement location: This year’s ceremonies will be held at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. For more about why the move to the Golden 1 Center, visit our FAQ.
Tickets: Graduates must register for graduation by May 23, 2023. During the registration process, graduates can request up to six tickets for guests. Register here.
Graduates don’t need tickets: Graduating students who are registered to participate in the ceremony do not need tickets to enter as you will be checking in at a separate area. Graduates will receive more information about check-in closer to their ceremony date. All emails sent to graduates can be found on our announcements page.
When you’ll receive your guest tickets: Paperless guest tickets will only be issued to the registered graduate a few days prior to the ceremony date.
Claim your guest tickets now: Registered graduates can now claim and download their guest tickets by clicking here. Follow these easy instructions on how to claim and share guest tickets and be sure to use your UC Davis email address. Contact the Golden 1 Center Box Office if you have any issues or questions regarding ticketing (M-F 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. phone: 916-701-5401, email: boxoffice@kings.com).
Guests need tickets: All guests are required to have a paperless ticket to be admitted to the venue, except for infants and toddlers under the age of 2. Guest tickets are considered “general admission,” and there are no assigned seats.
Ceremony schedule: Plan to come early as guest seating is first-come, first-served. Doors open for guest seating at 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. (respectively). You can see the full schedule of ceremonies here. Each ceremony should last about two and a half hours but can fluctuate depending on how many graduates are attending.
Graduate Check-In: Graduates should arrive early. Graduate check-in begins 90 minutes prior to each ceremony at the graduate entrance on the Northside entrance of the Golden 1 Center. There will be plenty of signage to show you were to go for check-in. View the map here.
Print your Grad Card in advance: All graduates are required to have a printed physical grad car, which has your name and will be used to announce your name as your cross the stage. You must have it printed out prior to arriving at the Golden 1 Center. To print, log into the UC Davis Commencement Registration site and click the blue button on the top left corner labeled ‘Print Grad Card’. You may print on regular white printer paper. Do not lose, tear or write on the card.
Don’t sell tickets: University policy prohibits the selling of commencement tickets for money or for any commercial value. Violation will result in referral to Student Judicial Affairs.
Parking
If you plan to drive, we recommend you reserve parking at the Golden 1 Center in advance directly through SacPark where you will select a parking lot and reserve a parking pass. For more parking info, including directions and a map, visit the Golden 1 Center’s parking webpage.
If you need help getting to commencement, please contact our planning team.
The ADA-accessible drop-off and pickup is located at Fourth and J streets. Parking for the duration of an event is not permitted. More information about ADA and accessibility information and support is available on the Golden 1 Center’s website.
Special Accommodations for Graduates
Students should indicate any accommodation needs at the time of registration or contact their college's commencement representative.
Photography
Family and friends may take photos from their seats or from the designated photo areas available during the ceremony. Tripods will not be allowed into any of the commencement venues. Photos may be taken outside of the venue after the ceremony.
UC Davis has partnered with Pro Pics to take professional portraits of all graduates during the ceremony. Photos will be available for purchase after the ceremony. There is no cost to have your photo taken and no obligation to purchase. If you would like to receive your photo proofs, please go to www.UCDavisphotos.com to submit your information. If you have any questions regarding photos, please contact Pro Pics at info@propicsusa.com.
Golden 1 Center Bag Policy and Prohibited Items
Please note that Golden 1 Center is a bagless venue. Clutches and wallets smaller than 8” x 6” x 1” will be permitted and are subject to security inspection. Please do not bring any bags larger than this size or you will not be permitted to enter the arena. Bags deemed and accepted as medical bags must be searched and tagged by a security supervisor. Backpacks are prohibited inside Golden 1 Center. https://www.golden1center.com/about/faqs. We recommend that you also review the prohibited items list for the Golden 1 Center to ensure entry into the arena.