The History of 'Tennis Paradise': Larry Ellison Invests $200 Million; BNP Paribas Sponsors for 20 Consecutive Years

The 2026 BNP Paribas Open (also known as the BNP Paribas Open due to its sponsor) has officially begun. Held in the Coachella Valley east of Los Angeles, the tournament attracted 500,000 attendees last year, far surpassing other tennis tour events, and is even hailed by many fans as tennis's "fifth Grand Slam."

"Tennis Paradise" is the promotional slogan for the Indian Wells Open. During the tournament in March each year, the bright Southern California sunshine and swaying palm trees create a unique atmosphere blending tropical vibes with competitive excitement. Many star players have expressed their love for this event.

Above: Stadium 1 of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, seating 16,100, is the second-largest outdoor tennis court in the world.

The tournament's predecessor was the "American Airlines Tennis Games" held in Tucson, Arizona. In 1987, driven by tournament director and ATP board member Charlie Pasarell, the event officially moved to Indian Wells.

Above: In 1987, the tournament relocated to Indian Wells

Pasarell (below) said: "When I took over this event, I told myself to have a twenty-year vision. I started pushing a series of projects to make the tournament more competitive and truly a spectacle."

He recruited star players and sponsors, and the tournament added a women's event in 1989, but development was not smooth sailing. Pasarell recalled:

"Around 1994, we realized we didn't have enough space, parking, or rooms. Initially, I considered moving the event to Las Vegas, but fortunately, we found a solution in Indian Wells." At the time, the US Open and French Open were expanding, and Pasarell was determined to "build a Grand Slam-level venue."

In 2000, Pasarell and his friend Raymond Moore co-founded PM Sports, and formed a joint venture with the IMG Group (each holding 50% shares) to manage the tournament. IMG invested $77 million to build the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, a complex covering nearly 100 hectares.

However, the joy of the new venue's completion was soon overshadowed by financial difficulties. In 2001, the tournament's media partner, Swiss giant ISL, suddenly went bankrupt. The company had signed a 10-year, $1.2 billion global marketing contract with the ATP. Some sportswear brands also terminated their partnerships with the tournament based on contract clauses. According to industry insiders, sponsorship revenue plummeted from $11 million to nearly zero, and the tournament suffered consecutive losses from 2001 to 2004, facing a survival crisis.

Under revenue pressure, selling the tournament became an option. It was rumored that the tournament received a $44 million acquisition offer from a Shanghai-based group, and Qatar also showed strong interest in bringing the top-tier event to the Middle East. The IMG Group, as one of the shareholders, strongly pushed for a sale.

However, thanks to the insistence of Pasarell and Moore, a local consortium led by PM Sports completed an equity restructuring, successfully blocking the sale and keeping the tournament in the United States.

After the 2008 financial crisis, the tournament faced difficulties again, but a huge turning point came in 2009—BNP Paribas became the title sponsor, and the tournament was officially renamed the "BNP Paribas Open", injecting stable financial support. BNP Paribas has since renewed its contract multiple times, with the current sponsorship agreement extending to 2030.

More importantly, in 2009, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, a tennis enthusiast, expressed strong interest in the tournament. He completed the acquisition in December 2009, investing approximately $100 million through his personal company Tennis Ventures to fully acquire the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and tournament ownership. This deal not only ensured the tournament remained in California but also opened a new chapter for "Tennis Paradise."

Above: In 2010, Ellison shakes hands with Federer at the Indian Wells Open

After taking over, Ellison continued to invest heavily in upgrades. It is estimated that subsequent investments totaled over $100 million. In 2014, the $70 million Stadium 2 opened, with 8,000 fixed seats. Most notably, the upper deck features a world-renowned Nobu restaurant overlooking the court. Ellison also planted 417 palm trees, joking: "Making the Indian Wells Tennis Garden live up to its name."

Today's Indian Wells Open has long left its financial shadows behind. Thanks to its Southern California location, every March, a large number of Hollywood stars attend the tournament, adding more star power. Last year, active lifestyle brand lululemon officially became the tournament's official apparel and footwear sponsor. This marks the brand's first major foray into tennis.

At the 2025 BNP Paribas Open, Mirra Andreeva and Jack Draper won the women's and men's singles titles, respectively.

｜Sources: Indian Wells Open official website, Indian Wells Tennis Garden official website, Tennis magazine, Los Angeles Times, University of Oregon materials, Titan Sports

｜Images: Indian Wells Open official website, Indian Wells Tennis Garden official website, International Tennis Hall of Fame