I went for the last day of qualifying and the first two days (round 1) of the actual tournament in March 2024. Indian Wells is frequently very sunny; even with a high temperatures of "only" 74 sitting in the sun, watching a match can be draining. I chose to watch matches with relatively unknown players on courts 6-9, because it was easy to get a great seat mere rows away, being able to hear the players as they exhort themselves to victory (or not). Sadly there is no recompense for losing a close, hard-fought match, just a trip home, and being so close you could see that reality in the faces of the players. There are so many people, even by the last day I was there, that it can be overwhelming. The parking lot, "paved" with putting green bermuda grass, is vast and it is easy to have a quarter mile walk from your car to the entrance (pro tip, take a photo so you can find your car). Follow the signs on the highway as to where to exit, don't use Google, the parking entrances are well thought out. Getting out, depending on when you are leaving, can be time-consuming, though it never took more than 7 minutes for me. Read the "clear bag" policy a week before you go so you can be sure you are compliant, if not you are sent back to your car. I found the food reasonably good for "arena"food; there are many choices. Note that the top 32 players in both men and women start in the second round, though if I had wanted to see these players, the practice courts have viewing access as well and are scheduled. Yes, you need the AXS app for tickets and the BNP Paribas app for information; so sorry that is a barrier for a few fans, but it is reality these days. This was my first visit to "Tennis Paradise," I'm uncertain about returning, the lure of watching matches on Tennis Channel on my couch after baking in the sun is substantial. If I do return, I will definitely just go for the early action, and watch the big names and later rounds on TV. The Eisenhower Cup on Tuesday after qualifying does offer many big names in a fun format.

Stadium Tour Series (Indian Wells Tennis Garden), Part 1 Often referred to as “Tennis Paradise”, this venue features 29 hard courts including Stadium 1 which seats 16,000 people. Although open to the public year round, it is during each March that it showcases the world’s most accomplished men and women professional players during the simultaneous ATP and WTA events. The shockingly close proximity to such great players is a rare treat (including marveling at such things as a 143 mph serve)! 🚀 While Stadium Courts 1 and 2 are where the very best players are typically featured, those tickets can be pricey. On the other end of the financial spectrum, the field courts offer incredible value when viewing not only tomorrow’s next generation of professionals, but also today’s very best as they hone their craft on the practice courts in pursuit of hoisting a trophy during the final weekend of play. Since our last visit a few years ago, the tournament now offers complimentary daily musical performances between the day and evening sessions. For us that meant enjoying the eclectic duo of Kevin Cronin (lead singer of REO Speedwagon) and Mats Wilander (7-time Grand Slam Champion). Parking was free for the first time that we’ve attended, but there are a few cautions that you should be aware of. Be prepared for a bit of a hike from the lot to the stadium grounds (on uneven surfaces for those utilizing wheelchairs, strollers, or walking canes). Also be prepared that the legion of staff that direct you when parking your vehicle will be long gone by the time you depart (it took us 25 minutes to navigate the ensuing chaos when exiting the lot at the end of the night). And that’s…Henry’s Take. #tennisparadise

Lovely venue starting with free parking close to the tennis stadiums. Stadium 1 has great seats up top in the shade for during the day. At night, we sat 5 rows back behind the tennis umpire. Food and beverage are, of course, not inexpensive. Top food picks are Moto Pizza with their sausage/pepperoni version and Sumo Dog kimchi version. I recommend going to the kiosks for Italian Prosecco which comes in a can for $20 including tax. Coronas are $15. Bring sunscreen, bug spray, and hat for day matches. You'll need ski jackets for night matches when the desert cools.

This was our third year going to Indian Wells Tennis Garden. We like the fact that we can see top tennis professionals up close and personal. Parking was free on the grassy area across from the stadium. It was very crowded this year compared to last year. Maybe because there were so many top ranked players in attendance. We bought grounds passes for two different days this year. They cost $30 each. We watched many players practice at the practice courts. Our passes allowed us into all courts except Court 1, which is the main and premier court. We felt it was worth the trade off. The courts fill up with spectators quickly, especially on a weekend, so plan accordingly. We left about 5 pm the first day because it turned chilly, and then rained. It can be hot during the day, and chilly at night. Keep that in mind. We just love Indian Wells, and will probably return again soon.

We attended the final day of the BNP Paribas Open 2024 and we really enjoyed the experience. It was our first time seeing a tennis match and we were in section 415 row D. I was worried that we would not be able to see and was pleasantly surprised that we had a great view. I would maybe even get seats higher up next time to save some money. The venue did not seem overly crowded considering how many people were there. The champagne and tequila tents were fun and I had a really good chicken sandwich for $19. Considering the venue, I though it was reasonable and the line was not long at all. Between the women's and men's final, we were able to go to Stadium 2 and watch the juniors play. They were amazing! Our hotel provided a free shuttle so we did not have to deal with parking. It was a well run event and we hope to return!