Shaded Seats at the Indian Wells Open (Stadium 2)

The Indian Wells Open, officially the BNP Paribas Open, ranks among the most prestigious tennis tournaments outside the Grand Slams. The tournament takes place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, a state-of-the-art facility in Southern California. This article specifically focuses on the secondary court, Stadium 2, which, while smaller than its nearby sibling Stadium 1, is still among the largest tennis stadiums in the United States. Considering the intense heat of the California desert, tennis fans are encouraged to use this guide in conjunction with the stadium seating chart to find the best shaded seats at Indian Wells.

Where are the seats in the shade and sun at Indian Wells Stadium 2?

Generally, the seats in the shade at Stadium 2 are located:

• Southwest Corner: First seats to receive shade
• West Sideline: Shaded later in the afternoon

And the seats in the sun are located:

• North Baseline: Sunny for most of the afternoon
• East Sideline: Sun exposed until sunset

Matches at the Indian Wells Open begin daily at 11:00 AM, and the sunset time varies significantly over the course of the tournament. This variation is due to the tournament’s scheduling during the switch to daylight saving time on the second Sunday in March. On the first day of qualifying matches, sunset occurs around 5:45 PM, but by the day of the finals, it isn’t until nearly 7:00 PM. This shift means that seats become shaded earlier in the day before the start of daylight saving time and later in the day after the time change.

Indian Wells Orientation to the Sun

All tennis courts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden are oriented in a north-to-south direction. Before the start of daylight saving time, the sun reaches its highest point in the sky around noon. After daylight saving time begins, this peak shifts to around 1:00 PM. As the afternoon progresses, the sun dips down along the west side of the stadium and eventually sets near the northwest corner.

The graphic below illustrates the approximate location of the sun throughout the day at Stadium 2 on March 15th, after daylight saving time has started.

See an interactive seating chart for the next event at Indian Wells Stadium 2

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Early Afternoon Indian Wells Matches

The stadiums at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden are completely open-air and fully exposed to the sun, with no roof or canopy over the stands. Stadium 2 features a mix of reserved seating in the 100 and 200 levels, and general admission in the 300 level. If you’re seeking shade, it’s best to buy a reserved seat, as nearly all general admission sections will be sun-exposed for the majority of the day.

Remember that the sun peaks around noon before daylight saving time starts and around 1:00 PM after it begins. For the hour before and after the sun’s peak, the only shaded seats are the last 2 or 3 rows in the 200 level, located directly under an overhang from the 300 sections or press box and restaurant above.

As the afternoon progresses, more seats will become shaded. The best options for shade are in sections 117-122 and 220-226, located in front of the press box and restaurant. Seats farther from the court in the 200 level will receive shade before those closer to the court in the 100 level.

Shaded seats are concentrated under the press box and restaurant on the south and west sides of the stadium. Sections east and north are sunny.
Jimmie48 Photography / Shutterstock.com

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon Indian Wells Matches

By late afternoon, finding shade becomes easier. To avoid the sun, focus on sections in the south baseline and west sideline. Sections 117-122 and 220-226 will remain shaded for the longest. Sections 101-102 and 201-203 will also receive shade by mid to late afternoon.

The sunniest sections are in general admission in the 300 level, as well as reserved sections on the north and east sides. Sections 106-113 and 207-215 will be the last to move into the shade.

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