Planning your trip to the BNP Paribas Open? Here’s the full breakdown of every court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, what your ticket actually covers, and which stadium is worth chasing down for the match you want to see.
Court-by-Court Snapshot
Before diving into each venue, here’s how the nine match courts stack up side by side.
| Court | Capacity | 2027 Ticket Needed | Typical Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium 1 | 16,100 | Reserved seat only | Finals, night sessions, top seeds |
| Stadium 2 | 8,000 | Reserved seat only | High-profile early rounds, doubles |
| Stadium 3 | Smallest show court | Grounds pass or any ticket | Doubles, rising stars |
| Stadium 4 | Largest outer court | Grounds pass or any ticket | Mixed doubles, early rounds |
| Stadium 5 | ~1,500 | Grounds pass or any ticket | Singles & doubles |
| Stadium 6 | ~2,100 | Grounds pass or any ticket | Singles & doubles |
| Stadium 7 | Small outer court | Grounds pass or any ticket | Singles & doubles |
| Stadium 8 | Small outer court | Grounds pass or any ticket | Singles & doubles |
| Stadium 9 | Small outer court | Grounds pass or any ticket | Singles & doubles |
| Practice Courts (~20) | N/A | Any ticket, incl. grounds pass | Warm-ups, autographs |
Note: published capacities for Stadiums 3, 4 and 7–9 vary slightly between sources — treat the figures above as approximate until confirmed on the tournament’s official site.
How Many Courts Does the Venue Actually Have?
Spread across a 54-acre site, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden holds 29 courts in total. During the BNP Paribas Open, nine become tournament match courts (Stadiums 1–9), while the remaining ~20 are dedicated practice courts. Every court, match or practice, is a hard court finished in Laykold surfacing and painted in the venue’s signature Pro Purple — a color and surface combination built to play on the slower side for a hard court.
Stadium 1: The Main Show Court
Seats: 16,100 — the second-largest tennis-specific stadium on earth, trailing only Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open.
Where it sits: Built low into the ground at the heart of the grounds by Rossetti Architects, preserving sightlines to the surrounding mountains — most fans descend into the bowl rather than climb up to it.
What you’ll see: Top seeds, night sessions, and the men’s and women’s finals on Championship Weekend.
Getting in: Reserved ticket required. That ticket also unlocks general admission to Stadiums 3–9, but not Stadium 2. Full-tournament series packages start around $875.
Stadium 2: The Secondary Show Court
Seats: 8,000, added in the 2014 expansion.
Where it sits: Inside the main show-court cluster, notable for dining built right into the stands, including a Nobu with a court-facing view.
What you’ll see: A heavy load of marquee early-round singles and big doubles matches, in a tighter, louder setting than Stadium 1.
Getting in: Fully reserved for 2027 — there’s no GA section here, and neither a grounds pass nor a Stadium 1 ticket gets you in. A Stadium 2 ticket also includes GA access to Stadiums 3–9.
Stadium 3 Through Stadium 9: The General Admission Courts
These seven courts are where most fans spend the bulk of their day, and they’re all included with a grounds pass or any stadium ticket.
- Stadium 3 — the smallest of the three true show courts, centrally located next to the on-site lockers, hosting competitive doubles, rising stars, and early singles rounds.
- Stadium 4 — the largest of the outer courts, on the southern side of the grounds, often the spot to catch mixed doubles early in the tournament.
- Stadium 5 — seats about 1,500, a steady first-week rotation of singles and doubles.
- Stadium 6 — seats about 2,100, alongside the other mid-size outer courts on the south side.
- Stadium 7 — a smaller court on the eastern flank, running north to south, often featuring players outside the top seeds.
- Stadium 8 — one of the smallest match courts, sitting between Stadiums 7 and 9 on the east side.
- Stadium 9 — a compact court on the eastern flank, a favorite for fans who like an intimate crowd around a great match.
Practice Courts: Your Best Shot at Getting Close
The roughly 20 practice courts are where the closest fan access happens. Top players warm up here, sometimes just feet from the fence, and practice schedules — posted on-site and in the tournament app — shift throughout the day. Arrive early and stay flexible about moving between courts; the walkways around this area are consistently the best spots for autographs and photos. Practice court access is included with every ticket type, grounds pass included.
Where the BNP Paribas Open Is Played
All matches take place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, 78-200 Miles Ave, Indian Wells, CA 92210, in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs. The 2027 tournament runs February 28 through March 14, with three days of qualifying followed by the main draw from March 3–14. Finals play out in Stadium 1 on Championship Weekend, while the opening week spreads matches across all nine courts simultaneously — which is exactly why the first week delivers the most tennis per day of the whole event.
Getting In: Venue, Courts and Rules
Read the full venue guide → for court-by-court capacity, gate times, and getting around the grounds.
What a Grounds Pass Gets You
Finding Your Way Around: Court Map Basics
The grounds are laid out in clusters. Stadium 1 anchors the center as the main show court, with Stadium 2 and Stadium 3 close by in the same show-court area. Stadiums 4–6, the mid-size outer courts, sit toward the southern side of the grounds, while the smaller Stadiums 7–9 run north to south along the eastern flank. Practice courts and the player lawn wrap around these clusters, keeping walking distances between matches short. For exact gate, locker, and restroom locations, check the tournament’s official interactive map or app on the day of your visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many courts are at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden?
29 in total — 9 used for tournament match play as Stadiums 1–9, and about 20 set aside for practice.
Where are BNP Paribas Open matches played?
At the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. Finals happen in Stadium 1; early rounds spread across all nine match courts.
Which courts can I enter with a grounds pass?
Stadiums 3 through 9 plus the practice courts. Stadium 1 and Stadium 2 are excluded.
Can a grounds pass get me into Stadium 2 in 2027?
No. Stadium 2 is fully reserved for 2027 — neither a grounds pass nor a Stadium 1 ticket grants entry. You need a dedicated Stadium 2 ticket.
What’s the difference between Stadium 1 and Stadium 2?
Stadium 1 seats 16,100 and hosts the finals and top-tier matches. Stadium 2 seats 8,000 and carries marquee early rounds. Both need their own reserved ticket in 2027.
Which is the biggest court at Indian Wells?
Stadium 1, at 16,100 seats — the second-largest tennis-specific stadium in the world.
How much does a ticket cost?
Qualifying-week days start around $10. Grounds passes are the most affordable main-draw option. Stadium 1 series packages for the full two weeks start around $875.
Who owns the Indian Wells Tennis Garden?
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who purchased the venue and the tournament in 2009.
What surface do the courts use?
Hard courts finished in Laykold and painted in the venue’s Pro Purple, known for playing on the slower side for a hard-court surface.
What’s the venue address?
78-200 Miles Ave, Indian Wells, CA 92210, in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs.
For more venue guides, ticket breakdowns, and everything else about the tournament, visit the Indian Wells Hub home page.