2023 BNP Paribas Open tennis at Indian Wells: Tickets, parking, food, schedule and more

It’s almost springtime in the Coachella Valley, and that means that the BNP Paribas Open is back.

The annual Indian Wells tennis tournament, the fifth-largest in the world, returns for the 49th time and will run from March 6-19 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The event remains the largest two-week combined WTA and ATP tournament outside of the four Grand Slams. Attendance for the event is typically over 450,000 for the two-week stretch, making it the most-attended WTA Premier Mandatory and ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament in the world.

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s event:

Vaccination not required

Unlike the last two years, this year the tournament will not have a vaccination requirement for those attending.

“After consultation with health and industry experts, the 2023 BNP Paribas Open will not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for fans attending the event at Indian Wells Tennis Garden,” the tournament said in a December statement. “We will continue to closely monitor the situation leading up to the tournament and reevaluate any policies as necessary.”

Where

All matches will be played at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden: 78-200 Miles Avenue, Indian Wells, Calif. 92210.

Who

Many of the top tennis players in the world are planning to play at this year’s BNP Paribas Open. Among the entrants are last year’s singles champions -- Polish tennis star Iga Świątek, the top-ranked player in the woman’s game, and returning men’s champion Taylor Fritz, who became the first American to win a singles title at Indian Wells since 2001.

Tennis icon Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked player in the men’s game, is among the big names on the entry list for this year’s BNP Paribas Open, though it remains unclear whether he’ll be allowed into the country because of his COVID-19 vaccination status.

Tickets

To purchase tickets online, visit https://bnpparibasopen.com/tickets/

To purchase tickets over the phone, call 1-800-999-1585 Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Qualifying days (Monday, March 6 and Tuesday, March 7) are $10 admission with all proceeds going to benefit The Champions Volunteer Foundation. Parking is free during qualifying.

Parking

New this year: General and ADA parking off of Miles Ave. is free.

Valet parking is accessed from Washington Street through Gate 2 on the East side of the venue. This service is only available for Front Box and Club Suites Series ticket holders.

VIP Self-Park is accessed from Warner Trail through Gate 9 on the North side of the venue. This service is only available for Box Suites Series ticket holders.

Taxi, Uber, Lyft and Ride Share pick-up and drop-off areas are located to the North Gate entrance. Bike parking is also available on the North and East Gate entrances, accessible through Gate 10 off of Warner Trail.

Television

Matches will be televised live on Tennis Channel. You may also stream matches live on the Tennis TV app.

Daily coverage will begin at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 8 and run throughout the tournament.

Important dates

Saturday, March 4: The tournament will host the all-new Family Day ahead of the official start of the tournament, welcoming families with children of all ages to enjoy a free afternoon at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden filled with fun and activities both on and off the court.

USTA Southern California will host special on-court tennis drills and activities at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden practice courts and the tournament will give away 2,000 HEAD tennis racquets for kids attending the event, which will be held from 1-4 p.m.

Monday, March 6: For the tournament’s opening day, fans hoping to get a taste of the action before main draw play begins can head to Stadium Plaza at 3 p.m. to watch the Making Of The Draw for both the ATP and WTA Tours.

Tuesday, March 7: Stadium Plaza will host a special viewing of the Indian Wells episode of the new Netflix show Break Point at 1 p.m. The episode stars Fritz and Maria Sakkari during their run to last year’s BNP Paribas Open final. Mural unveilings of the 2022 BNP Paribas Open champions will follow.

Later that evening, many of the top stars in the world will take the court in the 2023 Eisenhower Cup Presented by Masimo – a one-night Tie Break Tens event taking place under the lights of Stadium 2. The Eisenhower Cup returns for its fourth iteration at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden with an all-new, mixed doubles format featuring the biggest stars on both Tours, including Fritz, Sakkari, Iga Świątek, Fritz, Aryna Sabalenka, Stefanos Tsitsipas and more.

Tickets to the Eisenhower Cup are on sale, starting at $50, with all proceeds benefiting local charities, including The Champions Volunteer Foundation — the non-profit arm of the BNP Paribas Open.

Thursday, March 9: Fans will be able to join the BNP Paribas Open in recognizing distinguished individuals from the local area as part of the tournament’s annual Celebrating Community Heroes initiative from Thursday through Friday, March 17. The Champions Volunteer Foundation will honor various charity leaders and other local heroes with special recognition during each evening session on Stadium 1.

Friday and Saturday, March 10-11: Entering the first weekend of the tournament, fans will be treated to a Friday Night Firework Show on March 10 and Drone Show on March 11. Both shows will take place in between matches of the Stadium 1 evening sessions.

Live music

Live music performances will keep fans entertained each day at the tournament’s Village Stage, located in the heart of the venue, between Stadiums 1 and 2.

Tennis legend John McEnroe’s Johnny Smyth Band will headline a packed lineup of live music planned for 2023 as they take the stage on Saturday, March 11 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Annual fan-favorites like the Bryan Bros. Band will also return, with the former doubles stars set to perform on Friday, March 10 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Here’s the full list of live Village Stage entertainment:

• Monday, March 6 – 12 to 2 p.m.: Chase Huna Trio

• Monday, March 6 – 4 to 6 p.m.: Todd Ashley Jazz Guitar Duo

• Tuesday, March 7 – 12 to 2 p.m.: TJ Moss Duo

• Tuesday, March 7 – 4 to 6 p.m.: Doug and Meg Duo

• Wednesday, March 8 – 4 to 6 p.m.: J-Mann Duo

• Thursday, March 9 – 4 to 6 p.m.: Danielle Tucker and Mark Fulton Duo

• Friday, March 10 – 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Bryan Bros Band

• Saturday, March 11 – 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Johnny Smyth Band

• Sunday, March 12 – 4 to 6 p.m.: Radio Ready Band

• Monday, March 13 – 4 6 p.m.: Michael Keeth Duo

• Tuesday, March 14 – 4 to 6 p.m.: Lori Andrews Jazz Harp Duo

• Wednesday, March 15 – 4 to 6 p.m.: Apryle Dalmacio Duo

• Thursday, March 16 – 4 to 6 p.m.: Amy Serrano with DJ

• Friday, March 17 – 4 to 6 p.m.: Skip Johnson Duo

DJ Skee is also set to perform, with a special appearance in Stadium Plaza on Saturday, March 18. DJ Skee will bring his high energy music for an electric nighttime performance following the conclusion of Saturday evening session on Stadium 1.

Food & Drink

There are dozens of food and beverage options at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Food Network star and Los Angeles native Jet Tila will debut his restaurant, Bistro 88, in the space overlooking Stadium 1, while world-famous Japanese fusion restaurant Nobu will once again headline the offerings inside Stadium 2. Both restaurants offer guests seating that overlooks the stadium courts during matches.

For those looking for more casual options, local Palm Desert favorite Ristorante Mamma Gina returns to the grounds with a new location in Stadium 2. Also new for 2023, Hollywood icon Pink’s Hot Dogs has made it onto the tournament menu along with Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, Pacha Mamas, and Chef Tanya’s Kitchen – a vegan specialty restaurant based out of Palm Springs.

Möet & Chandon returns as the official champagne partner of the BNP Paribas Open and will have beverages flowing throughout the day and night at their luxurious Circles of Palms Lounge in the heart of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The tournament will also welcome Maestro Dobel as the official tequila of the BNP Paribas Open, offering up its signature Ace Paloma as the “Official Cocktail of the BNP Paribas Open” for patrons on-site, available at their branded bar next to Stadium 2.

More than 20 other restaurants, bars and dining options are available at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The schedule

*All day sessions begin at 11 a.m.; evening sessions begin at 6 p.m.

Monday, March 6: Qualifying begins at 11 a.m. Admission is $10, with all proceeds to benefit The Champions Volunteer Foundation.

Tuesday, March 7: Qualifying continues at 11 a.m. Admission is $10, with all proceeds to benefit The Champions Volunteer Foundation.

Wednesday, March 8: Men’s and Women’s first round

Thursday, March 9: Men’s and Women’s first round

Friday, March 10: Men’s and Women’s second round

Saturday, March 11: Men’s and Women’s second round

Sunday, March 12: Men’s and Women’s third round

Monday, March 13: Men’s and Women’s third round

Tuesday, March 14: Men’s and Women’s round of 16

Wednesday, March 15: Men’s and Women's quarterfinals

Thursday, March 16: Men’s and Women’s quarterfinals

Friday, March 17: Women’s semifinals / Men’s and Women’s doubles semifinals

Saturday, March 18: Men’s semifinals/Men’s and Women’s doubles finals

Sunday, March 19: Men’s/Women’s finals start at 1 p.m.

Full coverage

Check out our all-access coverage, including videos, photo galleries, interviews and stories, live from the BNP Paribas Open.

Andrew John covers the BNP Paribas Open for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells: Tickets, parking, schedule