According to BNP Paribas Open Chief Marketing Officer Philippe Dore, Indian Wells Tennis Gardens is turning its grounds into a mini-city as it prepares for the thousands of fans attending.
The grounds have several culinary options, shops to find unique tournament merchandise and several photo opportunities. Dore emphasizes that the main goal is to ensure fans are having fun. He explained that the tournament is bringing a new app to help fans make the most of their experience this year. It has all tournament information, such as ticket management, live-play coverage and dining opportunities.
One of the iconic features of the tournament is the culinary variety offered. Sodexo Live! VP of Culinary Chef Jeff Leidy hopes that while fans enjoy the tournament and merchandise, they also remember dining as a critical experience of their BNP Paribas Open experience. He noted that one of his goals was to offer a wide range of dining options. From casual options, such as burgers and wings, to fine dining, such as Nobu, he felt he brought multiple unique options for fans to enjoy. He emphasized that he would be on the property to speak with fans and get feedback on the culinary experience they had. Leidy says that he is also excited to bring some new surprises on the culinary side that are different from previous years.
A crucial part of the tournament’s operations is the volunteers. From ball crew to transportation around the valley to make the tournament accessible for everyone, volunteers are present to assist fans, and even players, through every step of their tournament journey. With almost 1,400 volunteers, BNP Paribas Open Volunteer Coordinator Nancie Wingo says this is a special year on the volunteer side. She says she feels “a powerful energy and excitement” for everyone to participate in the tournament. Wingo emphasized how volunteers make various aspects of the game, such as ticketing and grounds navigation, more accessible for fans. She encourages everyone to speak with the volunteers with any questions.
According to the City of Indian Wells, the BNP Paribas Open is the world’s largest combined WTA and ATP tennis tournament. Fans will see a star-studded line-up of players, including Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic. They can expect an exciting tournament to unfold over the coming weeks until March 17. As soon as the tournament wraps, Wingo says the Gardens will begin their preparation for 2025 right after.
