BNP Paribas Open crowds boosting local businesses

With tennis underway at the BNP Paribas Open, fans are starting flock in which means more customers for local businesses.

It’s a busy Thursday morning at IW coffee in Indian Wells with the line packed all the way to the door.

“Very convenient, even if it was two miles father, I’d go to it,” Judy Brown, who’s visiting from Colorado, said.

Quite a few customers in that morning rush were wearing the badges for the tennis tournament. along with some tennis fans buying local.

“The restaurants are great. Everybody’s been very friendly, and we’ve been impressed. It’s wonderful,” Mary Crozier, who’s visiting from Austin, Texas, said

Wonderful for IW Coffee owner, Merv Kyer, who says the tennis tournament is helping bring a 20 percent boost in foot traffic.

“We love serving them, we love people coming not only for the amazing coffee, but we try to give them an amazing experience,” he said.

An experience that’s bringing money into the local economy. Organizers say the BNP Paribas Open brings in over $400 million in business to the area, with more than 450 thousand fans attending last year.

Businesses inside the tennis garden are also looking at drawing locals…such as FILA. Staff says they have a marketing push.

“You come into Palm Springs International Airport, we have in airport advertising, bill boards on the I-10, to highlight our in-line collections,” Lauren Mallon, senior marketing manager for FILA, said.

With business booming, fans say a return trip could be in the works.

“It’s really nice to see the sun so and hopefully to come back really. It’s beautiful,” Crozier said.