Local Businesses Serve Up Big Opportunities at the BNP Paribas Open

Thousands of fans are pouring into the Indian Wells Tennis Garden this week for the annual BNP Paribas Open, one of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world. But beyond the matches on the court, the event is also creating major opportunities for local businesses throughout the Coachella Valley.

Every year, the tournament attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the United States and around the globe. Those fans don’t just come for tennis—they also get the chance to experience local restaurants, coffee shops, and vendors set up across the tournament grounds.

Many fans say they enjoy seeing local businesses represented at the event.

Visitors told NBC Palm Springs that having vendors from the valley adds a unique element to the tournament and helps support the local community while bringing more exposure to businesses in the area.

One of those businesses is Porta Via, which operates a location overlooking Stadium 1. Restaurant officials say being part of the tournament has helped grow their presence in the desert, especially at their El Paseo location.

They say the event allows them to reconnect with regular customers from around the valley while also introducing their brand to new visitors traveling from across the country and even overseas.

It’s not just restaurants benefiting from the exposure. Smaller vendors are also seeing a major boost from the tournament crowds.

Local coffee company Coachella Valley Coffee has multiple stands set up throughout the grounds. Owner Cliff Young says the two-week event accounts for a significant portion of the company’s yearly revenue.

Young says the increased sales not only help sustain the business but also support the company’s charitable efforts in the valley, allowing them to give back to local nonprofits and community programs.

While the stadiums are filled with some of the best tennis players in the world competing for a championship, the tournament grounds themselves showcase some of the best local businesses the desert has to offer.

From food and drinks to coffee and specialty vendors, the BNP Paribas Open continues to serve as a global stage—not just for tennis—but also for the businesses that help define the community of the Coachella Valley.