33°43′26.72″N116°18′20.17″W / 33.7240889°N 116.3056028°W /33.7240889; -116.3056028
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 Interactive map of Indian Wells Tennis Garden | |
| Location | Indian Wells, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Larry Ellison |
| Operator | Charlie Pasarell andRaymond Moore (PM Sports Management) |
| Capacity | Stadium 1: 16,100 Stadium 2: 8,000 |
| Surface | Hard (Laykold), Outdoors |
| Construction | |
| Opened | March 2000 |
| Reopened | March 3, 2014 (expansion) |
| Construction cost | $77 million ($11 million 2014 expansion) |
| Architect | Rossetti Architects |
TheIndian Wells Tennis Garden is atennis facility inIndian Wells, nearPalm Springs, California, in theCoachella Valley. The 16,100-capacity Stadium 1 is the largest stadium at the tennis complex, and the second largest outdoor tennis stadium in the world (after theArthur Ashe Stadium at theUS Open).
It is the home of theBNP Paribas Open (previously the Pacific Life Open), a joint event of both the men'sATP World Tour and the women'sWTA Tour, and constitutes the fifth largest tournament in the world, held each year in March.[1][2] The Indian Wells Tennis Garden also hosts junior and adultUnited States Tennis Association events year-round.[3] In addition to these large events, during the week members can use the courts for recreational play, and the Tennis Garden sets up matches for individuals who want to play. Additionally, the venue offers clinics, and there are professionals on staff available for a fee.
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The$77 million facility was built in March 2000, and was designed byRossetti Associates Architects. It was a result of former no. 1 US player, tournament chairman and owner of theBNP Paribas Open,Charlie Pasarell, partnering withRaymond Moore, to privately raise the money to fund the $77 million development. It was financed byIMG, led byBob Kain. When Pasarell and his partners first purchased 88 acres of sand in the middle of the Coachella Valley, many doubted its ability to attract people, as all other major tournaments are located in large metropolitan areas, such as Paris, London, New York City, and Melbourne. However, subsequent owners have shared and built on Pasarell's vision for the center.
In 2006, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden was bought by a group of private investors including Tennis Magazine owners George Mackin and Bob Miller,Pete Sampras,Chris Evert,Billie Jean King,Greg Norman, Charlie Pasarell, and Raymond Moore. In December 2009,Larry Ellison, co-founder and CEO ofOracle Corporation, became the owner of both the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and theBNP Paribas Open. A long-term tennis enthusiast, Ellison continually invests in upgrading the facility, including a new, permanent Stadium 2 with 8,000 seats, two 19,000-square-foot shade structures, 29 world-class courts, 23 lighted courts, upgraded locker rooms and fitness areas, a 108-seat press room and 18 broadcast booths, eight acres of outdoor exposition space and 54 acres of outdoor parking.
In total, the Tennis Garden contains 29 tennis courts,[4] including a 16,100-seat Stadium 1, 9 match courts and 6 practice courts. Stadium 1 is thesecond largest tennis-specific stadium in the world.[5][6]
As well as tennis, the venue has hosted concerts by artists such asThe Eagles,The Who,Tom Petty,Andrea Bocelli, andRBD.[3] TheNBA has played three pre-season exhibition games at Indian Wells, with all these events involving thePhoenix Suns. The first game featured the Suns against theDenver Nuggets on October 11, 2008; the NBA's first outdoor game since September 1972. On October 10, 2009, the Suns played theGolden State Warriors and on October 9, 2010, the game featured the Suns and theDallas Mavericks.[7]
TheIndian Wells Masters, also known by its currently sponsored nameBNP Paribas Open, has been held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden since 2009. Previously, it was home to the Pacific Life Open and the Indian Wells Masters tennis events. The tournament is held annually at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in the second week of March. The tournament is anATP Tour Masters 1000 on theATP Tour and aWTA 1000 on theWTA Tour. The tournament also helps local charities with donations, and the tennis stars themselves sometimes help out.[citation needed]
After the conclusion of the 2013 BNP Paribas Open, the Tennis Garden underwent an expansion, including a new permanent Stadium 2 with a capacity of 8,000 and containing three new restaurants overlooking the court,[8] a new Tennis Garden Village (18,000 sq ft), and additional seating to the outer and practice courts. A grand entrance to the tennis grounds on Washington Street, with a new box office and an additional 2,000 paved parking spots. Numerous video walls were added throughout the Tennis Garden with new information towers.[9] The expansion was complete by the start of the 2014 BNP Paribas Open.[10][11] The revamping of the tennis center also included a "Pro Purple" interior court color created specifically for theATP Masters Series and first used at Indian Wells, citing the purple color being 180 degrees opposite the yellow of the ball on the color wheel.[12]