'An amazing experience': Indian Wells is drawing crowds from around the country and beyond

Rogelio Villanueva and Anna Escobar brought their two daughters, ages 11 and 9, from Mexico this year to watch a few days of the BNP Paribas Open. After years of talking about it, they finally made the trip.

The family had watched the tournament on television. They knew of the players. They knew the game. So, together they boarded a plane near their home in Mazatlan for the nearly six-hour flight to the California desert.

Villanueva, Escobar and their daughters stood just outside the practice courts on the second day of the tournament, with oversized tennis balls searching for an autograph of their favorite player, Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, a two-time champion in Indian Wells.

“Being here, this is just an amazing experience,” said Villaneuva, who said that the family has run into other tennis fans from Mexico. “It’s been worth the travel.”

The BNP Paribas Open set an attendance record of 493,440 last year for the two-week tennis tournament that some refer to as “the fifth Grand Slam.” Of that crowd, the tournament reported that 94% came from outside the Coachella Valley, with 11% coming from beyond the United States, making the event that was once a local tournament a very international one now.

While the tournament has not set a single-day record this year, a two-day total of more than 100,000 attended the first Saturday and Sunday of the tournament.

Over the five-decade history of the event, players from 26 different countries and Great Britain have played in a singles final at Indian Wells, which has attracted attention from nearly every corner of the globe.

On Tuesday, a group of fans held up a Danish flag in support of Danish player Hulger Rune. He was asked about it after he won his match to reach the quarterfinals.

"I think it's great," Rune said. "I've received a lot of love and great support in this tournament. Even playing (Taylor) Fritz last year here, I remember it was a great atmosphere. Even for me playing a player that's it's his home court almost.

"I think the crowd is really respectful. They really support great tennis, and they are here for the good matches. Definitely, seeing the Danish flag, and people from Denmark traveling here to watch me play is really great."

As a result of fans traveling to watch their favorite international stars, the Indian Wells tournament generated a total economic impact of $852 million last year, according to a study commissioned by the tournament and completed by The George Washington University. The study represented a 52% increase from a similar study conducted in 2022.

The tournament reports that tickets are sold to tennis fans from dozens of states across the U.S., and several countries across the globe.

"It increases every year, the people from out-of-market coming here," said Philippe Dore, the tournament's chief marketing officer. "We’ve got the global reach. Our tournament, our brand is powerful. People travel here.”

Dore said that the study showed that when fans travel to the valley for the tournament, the average stay is about three days. So, they're rarely coming for just a single match or a single day, as maybe they would for another sporting event.

“They’re here for the full experience," Dore said.

Janice Eaton came to the tournament for the first time this year from her home in Toronto. She’s one of many Canadians who could be seen this week watching Félix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov and Leylah Fernandez. A group of fans waved a Canadian flag at Fernandez’s first match of the tournament.

“I’ve been dreaming about this for two weeks,” Eaton said, “ever since I got the tickets. The weather here is an escape for some of us, and it really has the feel of a slam.”

Salt Lake City resident Richard Grow and his wife, Jody, have been coming to the tournament for decades, going back to the 1980s, when it was a small event. They’re among the group of fans who’ve continued to come to the tournament as its grown exponentially over the years.  

The couple, who’ve been married more than 50 years now, went to the Australian Open in 2024. They plan to attend Roland Garros later this spring to tick another box on their bucket list.

But Indian Wells, Richard Grow says, has something unique.

“The weather usually cooperates,” Grow said, “and while it’s grown, I think it’s still a place true tennis fans appreciate.”

Andrew John covers the BNP Paribas Open for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com. Follow him on Bluesky: @andrewjohn1.bsky.social