For decades, tennis has been a bit of a high-brow sport, and attending major tennis events has been thought of as something for the country club crowd. While there may be some truth to that, the BNP Paribas Open has made efforts to make attending the annual event more affordable.
For those who may have always wanted to spend a day watching the biggest stars in tennis while eating some of the best food in the California desert, I’m here to share some tips on how to do that without breaking the bank.
It really depends on how much you’re willing to spend, but you can have a great day out at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for less than what you’d probably spend these days on a concert and likely less than another major sporting event.
Budget: Let’s set the baseline at $125 per person.
Now, admittedly, that is still be a bit pricey. But this is for parking, an entire day of entertainment and for two meals and a snack.
Arrive around 9 a.m.
General and ADA parking off of Miles Ave. is free. The suggestion here is to take advantage of the free parking lot rather than pay for VIP or valet parking. Bike parking is also available on the North and East Gate entrances, accessible through Gate 10 off of Warner Trail.
Once you arrive, head to the box office and pick up a Grounds Pass (which I recommend buying ahead of time online). Grounds passes are $10 per day during Qualifying, $30 on March 4, $40 on March 5 and $60 per day on March 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The pass is what will gain you access to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Gates open an hour before play begins, which varies from day to day.
Once inside, you can explore practice courts, all match courts except Stadiums 1 and 2, and all fan zones and other public spaces.
Food strategy
Like at any event, food and drinks can be pricey, so here’s how to maximize your budget. Eat breakfast before you get there, then buy a morning snack from one of the many kiosks once inside the grounds. Coffee and breakfast snacks at Coachella Valley Coffee Company, for example, will run you around $10-15.
Once you’re ready for lunch, there are a ton of options. If you’re trying to keep it light, a salad with grilled chicken at John’s will run you about $20. Açai bowls at Oakberry, loaded with granola and fruit, are between $15-20. If you spend $60 on and Grounds Pass and $15-20 on a morning coffee and snack, you should then have $45-50 for lunch and dinner.
Burgers and chicken sandwiches at John’s, Lionel’s Fountain, Love Love Chicken or BBQ sandwiches at Post & Beam are also around $20.
For beverages on a budget, the recommendation here is to bring a refillable (not plastic) water bottle. That way you can refill your water bottle at various stations around the grounds and save your budget for food. There are lots of great drink options on the grounds but be careful because they can wreck your budget quickly.
Once you’re ready for dinner, you should have around $20-25 remaining to use in the food village or stadium kiosk.
If you want to stretch above your daily $125 budget, there are four restaurants on the grounds that will offer a unique experience. Nobu offers world-class sushi in Stadium 2, where you can watch a match while you eat. Pretty cool. Porta Via offers Italian-inspired California cuisine in Stadium 1 overlooking play on Stadium Court. Molé offers authentic Mexican cuisine and Ristorante Mamma Gina offers traditional Florentine cuisine. Both are inside Stadium 2.
What to do all day (with your Grounds Pass)
Practice courts: This will be the best chance to see the biggest tennis stars up close. You can also watch matches, which will feature some high-profile players, but the top names will almost always play matches inside Stadiums 1 and 2 which are off limits with a grounds pass.
Players will have a scheduled time to practice in front of fans, so you’re likely to catch the likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and others on the practice courts on a given day. Check the tournament app for scheduled times and arrive early to get the best seats.
Watch matches: Match hop all over the grounds to catch other stars on various courts. On a given day, you can usually catch a variety of seasoned pros, rising stars and unknowns looking to break through. You’re also like to see some doubles matches, which are really exciting to watch up close.
Fan zones: These areas, which include sponsor booths and interactive fan games and watching areas, are all free with your pass. Watch matches inside Stadiums 1 and 2 on the jumbo screen from an Adirondack chair or the grassy area just outside Stadium 1.
Snag a selfie: Near the practice courts is a grassy area where players like to relax and visit with one another. Djokovic played a soccer game with some members of his team there two years ago, and others have been known to use the outdoor gym or simply enjoy the sunshine and stretch following a practice session. While fans are not allowed in the area, along the gate is a popular area for fans to congregate for autographs and selfies with the players. (*pro tip: if you want to try to catch a specific player, plan to go on a day when they aren’t playing in a match. They’ll be scheduled to practice on those “off” days.)
This is a really unique opportunity to catch stars up close in a way that cannot at many other major sporting events.
Live music: Depending on the day, there’s also live music to enjoy for those on the grounds. In the past, tennis Hall of Famer John McEnroe and his band have played. The Hall of Fame doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan and their band play almost every year.
This year, on March 4, American Idol winner Abi Carter is scheduled to play on the Village Stage. That will be a great opportunity for anyone wanting to see her play, and Grounds Passes are just $30 for the day.
Conclusion
If you’re willing to spend around $125 for the day, you can get two meals and a snack, you’ll be able to listen to live music, watch several matches, and have an opportunity to watch the stars up close. You’ll be able to perhaps even get an autograph or a selfie with a player, while also cruising the grounds for free games and experiences. That’s, honestly, a bargain.
While that may still be too pricey for some, those who can swing it will have a full-day, festival kind of experience waiting for them.
Andrew John has covered the BNP Paribas Open since 2013. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: How to navigate a day at the BNP Paribas Open on a budget
Reporting by Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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