Feature

Major stadium upgrades to be showcased at upcoming BNP Paribas Open

The Indian Wells Tennis Garden, home of the BNP Paribas Open tournament in the US state of California, will showcase a number of new stadium features during this year’s event, which runs from March 6-19.

The complex’s 16,100-capacity Stadium 1 is set to benefit from a range of renovations that tournament organisers hope will provide an “unprecedented” fan experience.

The Stadium Plaza will now serve as a permanent part of the stadium, while the facility’s ‘Superwall’ will be 33-per-cent wider to allow it to display up to five matches at one time. All of Stadium 1’s suites will also be completely renovated.

The open-air portion of the stadium’s concourse level will be covered to allow for the expansion of suites on the second level. These suites will also be fitted with private restrooms, while all other existing restrooms will be upgraded. Restrooms will also be added to the upper bowl.

A new hospitality room, which will be open all year round and will hold up to 200 people, will be open in time for this year’s event, along with the Front Box Club, a satellite broadcast studio, fitness centre and club pro shop.

Other improvements include a brand new media room, two-storey office building for tournament management and staff, and additional commissaries to accommodate the new concessions. The stadium’s footprint has increased from 200,000 to 300,000 square feet to allow for all of the enhancements.

The BNP Paribas Open is the best-attended tennis tournament outside of the four grand slams.

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