At the BNP Paribas Open this week, VIP treatment and star power will make you almost forget you’re there to watch the tennis.
The BNP Paribas Open, underway these two weeks in Indian Wells, California, is a place where tennis purists, Hollywood elites, and the occasional tech billionaire come together to bask in the desert sun, sip on something chilled, and watch world-class athletes do their thing. And in 2025, the VIP experience is getting a serious upgrade—with improved suites and dining options, and enough star power to make you forget you’re technically there for the tennis.
I’ve been following this tournament for years, and I can tell you this: the matches are only part of the draw (though watching Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek dominate last year was certainly worth the price of admission).
Celebrity Sightings With a Side of Tennis (and Pickleball)
In recent years, the BNP Paribas Open has drawn everyone from Charlize Theron and Will Ferrell to sports legends like Michelle Wie and, well, non-sports legend Bill Gates. Zendaya and Tom Holland were courtside last year, and tournament owner Larry Ellison tends to pop up more and more as the finals draw near.
As usual this year, the party started with Desert Smash, the annual charity event, now in its 21st year, that kicks off tournament week. Hosted by Pink, this week’s edition featured a pickleball showdown between tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios and pickleball world number one player Fredrick Staksurd (apparently, tennis isn’t enough anymore). For $1,000, VIPs could snag an on-court seat—yes, literally on the court—complete with a welcome gift, open bar access, and the thrill of possibly dodging a stray dink. Update: Kyrgios and pro partner Callie Jo Smith beat Staksrud and partner Naomi Osaka.
The VIP Experience: Because Regular Seats Are for Amateurs
If you’re going to drop serious cash on a tennis tournament, you might as well do it in style. Starting at the $100,000 level, the “full series” package lets you entertain clients (or a bunch of your tennis buds), with a reserved suite for up to 39 guests, all with private shaded seating, air-conditioning, VIP parking, and more.
Upgraded for this year, NetJets Club is an all-inclusive VIP dining space with a private patio, and an air-conditioned lounge with flat-screen TVs.
Premium Club Suite 209 notches up the luxury experience with reserved seating in Stadium 1, all-inclusive food, and private lounges.
Here’s the one I’d take: If you need a little sashimi with your experience, there’s a limited availability package bundled with a Front Box Seat ticket in Stadium 1, section 127 row BB, with a reserved table at Nobu in Stadium 2. Love, love!
Tennis? Yep. That’s Happening, Too.
While Alcaraz is definitely a three-peat threat for 2025, Indian Wells is known for its surprises (Remember when Taylor Fritz beat Rafa Nadal in 2022? Who saw that coming?).
So, who’s going to win this year? In the men’s draw, Daniil Medvedev, the Russian powerhouse, has been crushing it on slow courts. But don’t count out world No. 2 Alexander Zverev, from Germany, or a little-known player named Novak Djokovic. The Joker is worth the price of whatever VIP tickets you can land (you can often find him on the practice courts at Indian Wells if he’s not competing that day).
On the women’s side, Coco Gauff is the one to watch. With her 21st birthday falling during the tournament, it could definitely be her moment to celebrate big-time in the desert sun.
This story was originally published on forbes.com.
Look back on the week that was with hand-picked articles from Australia and around the world. Sign up to the Forbes Australia newsletter here or become a member here.
