BNP Paribas garden party gets desert into ‘Full Bloom’
Before any player takes to the court for the 2018 BNP Paribas Open, there’s a cause for celebration. On January 26., the Gardens of El Paseo transform into Tennis Paradise for the inaugural BNP Paribas Open “Garden Party.”
The event, which will take place from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m., will serve as the “official kick-off to Tennis Season in the Coachella Valley,” according to the Open’s news release. The party is open to the public and will include a bevy of local food and drink vendors, a trivia competition, lawn games, and table tennis. Attendees will also have the chance to take a picture with the Baccarat trophy, the official prize given to the tournament champ.
“We can’t wait to celebrate the start of Tennis Season with our fans and our partners ahead of what promises to be another fantastic tournament in March,” says Phillipe Dore, the tournament’s media and marketing director.
The garden party aims to set the tone for this year’s new tournament theme, “Full Bloom.” The new branding goes a bit beyond ping pong and photo opportunities on El Paseo, however. The Tennis Garden itself is undergoing “a full-scale beautification project that emphasizes the lush, green environment,” in preparation for the 43rd iteration of the Open.
For those who aren’t the garden party type, there’s no need to fret – the tournament itself, which runs March 5-18, has a stacked field full of elite talent.
