2011 BNP Paribas Open Frequently Asked Questions "FAQs"

Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Indian Wells, California
March 7 - 20, 2011

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What is the BNP Paribas Open?
What are the dates and times of the event?
Where do I buy tickets?
Where is the box office?
What does my ticket entitle me to?
Do you offer General Admission Tickets?
What time is the evening session ticket valid at the gates?
Does my child need a ticket?
Do you offer discounts?
What if I lose or forget my ticket?
Are there shaded seats?
How many seats are in the main stadium?
How many seats are in stadium two and three?
What time do the gates open for day session matches?
What time does the day or evening session start?
Where is the wheelchair seating?
What if I am disabled, but not in a wheelchair?
When will my tickets be mailed?
Where is Will Call during the tournament?
Are ATM machines available?
May I leave tickets in will call for someone to pick-up?
Where is the parking for the BNP Paribas Open tournament?
Do you offer hotel packages for the BNP Paribas Open tournament?
May we bring food/beverage?
Can I bring a back pack?
What is your cell phone policy?
What is your camera policy?
What is your policy regarding pets?
Is there a lost and found?
May I smoke in the stadium?
What is the rain policy?
What can I do if I am unable to use my tickets?
How do I get there?
May I get information on purchasing a Stadium Suite and information about sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities?
Is the tournament televised?
How is the draw made?
How is the schedule determined?
How do I get information about the match schedule?
Can you tell me now when a particular player will play?
Can I watch players practice?

What is the BNP Paribas Open?
The BNP Paribas Open is the largest combined ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier tennis event in the world.  It is hosted at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, a 16,100 seat stadium located in the majestic Southern California desert just outside of Palm Springs in the City of Indian Wells.  The offers $9 million total and distributes equal prize mony to a men's and women's 96 singles draw and a 32 doubles draw.

What are the dates and times of the event?
**2011 Dates and Sessions:
March 7 & 8: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Qualifying Rounds - 10am FREE ADMISSION
March 8 & 9: ATP World Tour Qualifying Rounds - March 8 -10am FREE ADMISSION, March 9 -11am
March 9 - 20: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Main Draw - 11am
March 10 - 20: ATP World Tour & Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Main Draw - 11am
March 14 - 21: Main Stadium court matches start at 12pm
March 19: Sony Ericsson WTA Doubles Final, ATP Semi-Finals and ATP Doubles Final - 12pm
March 20: Sony Ericsson WTA Singles Final and ATP Singles Final - 12pm

** All times and schedules are subject to change

Where do I buy tickets for the 2011 BNP Paribas Open?
Website: www.bnpparibasopen.com Email: tix@iwtg.net
Phone: (800) 999-1585 or (760) 200-8000
Fax: (760) 200-8444
Mail or In Person: 78-200 Miles Avenue, Indian Wells, CA 92210
Box Office Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Saturday (Jan.-Mar.)

Where is the box office?
Prior to Monday, February 28, 2011 the box office is located on the north side of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden stadium. Enter off of Miles Avenue and follow  perimeter road to the north side of the stadium. Park and enter North gate and follow to stadium "Tickets".  As of February 28 the remote box office at the north gate will be open.  Starting Monday, March 7, the main box office is located on the south side of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden off Miles Avenue.

What does my ticket entitle me to?
Tickets purchased for the main stadium are valid on a general admission (first come, first serve) basis only on ALL outside courts. Box Seat and Club tickets have a small reserved general admission area located in the first four rows on the east side of stadium 2 & 3. Tickets purchased for stadium 2 & 3 are not valid for the main stadium.

Do you offer General Admission Tickets?
General Admission tickets are available for purchase through the tournament website and at the box office Wednesday, November 4, 2010. These tickets allow access to General Admission seating on all outer courts and to designated General Admission (upper bowl) sections in the Main Stadium on a space available basis.

What time is the evening session ticket permitted through the gates?
Evening session tickets are permitted through the gates at 4:30 p.m. Evening session tickets are valid on a general admission (first come, first serve) basis only on ALL outside courts. Admission to the main stadium will be allowed at the announced evening session match time. If day session runs late then main stadium admission may be delayed.

Does my child need a ticket?
Children under the age of 3 are not required to have a ticket, provided they sit on your lap and do not inconvenience the other tennis fans. If they require a seat, a ticket will have to be purchased.

Do you offer discounts?
Seniors, USTA members, Students, Military Personnel & Coachella Valley residents receive 30% off daily loge tickets for most sessions. No discounts is available on the final Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the tournament unless it is being offered with a special tournament promotion.

What if I lose or forget my ticket?
Tickets will be replaced for the ORIGINAL TICKET PURCHASER at a cost of $10.00 each. If replacement tickets are ordered over the phone, they will not be mailed.  They will be placed in Will Call. PHOTO I.D. WILL BE REQUIRED to pick them up.

Are there shaded seats?
All courts are outside and open air. The courts are situated on a north/south plan so pending on the time of day there may be shaded seats located on the west, northwest and southwest sides of the courts. All seats in the main stadium court are reserved. Most seats on the outside courts are available on a general admission basis.

How many seats are in the main stadium?
There are 16,100 seats in the main stadium. The upper bowl section is located above the stadium suites and consists of two seating sections, the loge and the grandstand seats. The grandstand seats have a seat-back but no arm rests. The lower bowl is located below the stadium suites and includes all box seat sections.

How many seats are in Stadium Two and Three?
Stadium Two has 5,000 seats and Stadium Three has 3,000 seats.  The seat numbers changed this year.  There are a limited number of reserved seats on the west side of both of these courts are available for purchase. All other seats are available on a general admission basis - first come, first serve. Once a person leaves, the seat must be rendered to the next person waiting in line.

What time do the gates open for day session matches?
Gates open one hour before the matches start each day.

What time does the day or evening session start?
Matches generally start at 11:00 a.m. for main draw play day sessions and 7:00 p.m. for the evening session. Times are subject to change. For current times please check www.bnpparibasopen.com or the daily draw sheet in The Desert Sun starting Wednesday, March 9, or after March 6, 2011 call the Sports Information line at (760) 200-8120.

Where is the wheelchair seating?
The wheelchair sections are located in all seating areas of the stadium (suites, box and loge seats). Depending on the location there is seating for one to three companions next to the wheelchair. Handicap parking is available.

What if I am disabled but not in a wheelchair?
We can accommodate persons incapacitated, but not in a wheelchair, in the stadium box and loge seat areas. Please contact the box office at tix@iwtg.net or 800-999-1585. 

When will my tickets be mailed?
Tickets for single sessions are mailed out the day after processing. If you do not receive your tickets within 3 weeks, please contact our box office. Stadium Club, Club Suite, Box Seat, Loge and Grandstand Series tickets will be mailed mid January 2011. Tickets ordered after February 26, 2011, will be held in Will Call. Please make sure you provide the name of the person who will be picking up the tickets as their photo I.D. will be required to pick up tickets from Will Call.

Where is Will Call during the tournament?
Through March 6, 2011, patrons may pick up tickets at Will Call at the North Stadium Box Office. As of Monday, March 7, all Will Call tickets will be available for pick up at the Will Call tent located off Miles Avenue next to the "G" parking lot.

May I leave tickets in will call for someone to pick-up?
Will call is a service that we offer only to a patron purchasing tickets directly from the box office by telephone or the www.bnpparibasopen.com website. The person whose name appears on the ticket must personally pick up the tickets with photo I.D. We will not accept and / or deliver third party will call.

Are ATM machines available?
ATM machines are located on site adjacent to Entry C and Entry D of the Main Stadium.

Where is the parking for the BNP Paribas Open tournament?
General parking for the tournament is located in the "General" ("G") lot, south of the stadium off Miles Avenue. Parking is $10.00 per car, per entry. These passes may be pre-ordered. For day sessions only, if you leave and want to re-enter before 4:30pm, you may see a parking attendant to re-enter at no additional charge.

Designated handicap parking is located in the General lot. You must have a handicap placard, sticker or license plate issued by the DMV to park in this area.

Full Classic Series Ticket Holders: Stadium Club, Club Suite and Front Row Box seat patrons receive one valet parking pass per two seats. Courtside and Stadium Box Seat patrons receive one pass per two seats.

Do you offer hotel packages for the BNP Paribas Open tournament?
Yes, the tournament offers 6 great hotel and ticket packages with 11 hotel choices. For more information please Click Here or call:
Indian Wells Tennis Garden Reservations Office
E-mail address: travel@iwtg.net
Phone: (760) 200-8000 or (800) 999-1585
Fax: (760) 200-8444

May we bring food/beverage?
Food and beverages are sold on the grounds during the event. All soft-sided containers and bags 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches are permitted. ALCOHOL AND GLASS CONTAINERS ARE NOT PERMITTED. Due to added security, all backpacks, purses, etc., will be searched.

May I bring a back pack?
All soft-sided containers and bags 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches are permitted. Bags and containers are subject to inspection by gate security prior to entering the tournament site. Hard-sided coolers and bags are not allowed. Back packs that exceed the approved size or hard sided containers must either be returned to their owner’s vehicle/transportation or discarded. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden will not provide a storage area for these items. Guests arriving by public transportation much take particular caution not to bring any prohibited items as no exceptions will be made.

What is your cell phone policy?
As a courtesy to the players and fans please turn off your cell phone when watching matches in the stadium or the outer courts.

What is your camera policy?
Camcorders and cameras are prohibited for any purpose other than the recording of footage or photographs for personal and private domestic use only.  They are permitted as long as there is no flash photography and the equipment is not a hinderance to surrounding spectators.  Film may not be reproduced.  Such footage or photographs cannot be exploited or displayed in any manner or in any medium whatsoever without the express written consent of the ATP World Tour or Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

What is your policy regarding pets?
Only certified service animals and service animals in training are allowed on the grounds.

Is there a lost and found?
Lost and Found and Security are located at the North Gate. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden, its owner and the owner’s affiliates, agents and employees are not responsible for lost or stolen articles.

May I smoke in the stadium?
Smoking is not permitted in the main stadium or at any of the outer courts, including Stadium 2 and 3.

What is the rain policy?
Every attempt will be made to play any and all scheduled matches in the event of inclement weather. In the event of rain we will try to accommodate the ticket holder for a subsequent session, based on availability. If this is the case, the ticket for the rain out day will be generally honored as a General Admission. There is no guarantee that ticket holders can be accommodated.

Can I resell my tickets?
Reselling tickets is illegal in the City of Indian Wells.

How do I get there?
Please click here to link to Mapquest for map and directions.

May I receive information on purchasing a Stadium Suite and information about sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities?
Please click here or call Peggy Michel at 760-200-8414.

How can I receive information about sponsorships and exhibitor opportunities?

Please click here or call Rolf Hoehn at 760-200-8448.

Is the tournament televised?
Yes. There is both a national and international broadcast schedule. Consult you local listings for air times or click here for an updated schedule.

How is the draw made?
First the 32 seeded players (the 32 highest-ranked players per the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour or ATP World Tour ranking system) are placed on the draw (No. 1 on the first line, No. 2 on the last line and then the others in alternating order on pre-determined lines). Once the seeds are in place, the other players are drawn at random and placed on the empty lines starting at the top of the page and going down the draw until it is filled.  The public is welcome on a free admission basis to come watch the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Singles Draw on Monday, March 7 and the ATP World Tour Singles Main Draw on Tuesday, March 8 at the Tennis Garden Village Stage.

How is the schedule determined?
The schedule is made each day late afternoon or early evening. Representatives including the tournament referee, Tour supervisors from the ATP and WTA Tour, broadcasters and the tournament director determine the schedule.

How do I get information about the match schedule?
During the tournament the following day's schedule is determined each evening and it is usually available no later than 7 p.m depending on how long the day session matches run. It will be posted at www.bnpparibasopen.com and on the Sports Information Line at 760-200-8120.

Can you tell me when a particular player will play?
No, the draw for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour main draw players will be made on Monday, March 7, 2011 and for the ATP World Tour main draw players on Tuesday, March 8, 2011. The match schedule for each day of play will reflect which players will be playing as well as when they will be playing. The match schedule is posted on the official tournament website after approximately 7pm the prior evening.

Can I watch players practice?
You may watch the players in action on the practice courts  A-F and 10-15 which are located on the south side of the stadium. A schedule of practice times is not available for the players.