BNP Paribas Opens Up Major Business

At just the mention of the 2012 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, local business owners get very excited.

“Oh my goodness, the tournament is enormous for the entire valley,” La Quinta Baking Company managing partner Bob Gary said.

While players warm up and prep for the tournament to start, businesses said they’re ready for the crowds.

“There’s so many visitors from out of town, plus all the players themselves that travel with managers and trainers. There’s just a lot of people in this part of the valley right now,” Gary said.

Business owners are eager for them to stop by.

“We probably double or triple our sales, easy,” Beer Hunter manager Shannon Finnell said.

“It probably increases it 30 to 40 percent over what it would normally be in March, which is a very busy period anyway,” Gary added.

It makes sense, since this tournament draws people in to the valley like a magnet.

“This event, over 80 percent of the audience comes from over 100 miles away to see the event. So its truly a destination event. Tourists make a plan to come here for three or four days,” BNP Paribas Tournament Director Steve Simon said.

Simon said last year more than 350,000 people came to the event. He said sales show this year will surpass that.

“It’s a God-send. It’s absolutely wonderful to have the tennis tournament,” Gary added. “We’re so close to it. It’s a good option for people who are local that are coming and want to frequent the local businesses.”

“It’s just an all around easy good crowd that comes in they’re happy, they’re cheerful,” Finnell said.

As are business owners.