BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells (Formally the Pac. Life Open)- Preview & Tickets “March 9-22, 09”

Indian Wells Tennis Tournament Announces New Name BNP Paribas Open

BNP Paribas Open To Offer Equal Prize Money

Indian Wells, Calif., January 14, 2009 – The Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, formerly called the Pacific Life Open has a new name, the BNP Paribas Open (BNP Paree Ba) and a new website address, bnpparibasopen.org. BNP Paribas, a global leader in banking and financial services, has agreed to sponsor the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier tennis tournament, to be held from March 9-22, 2009, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, it was announced by Charlie Pasarell, tournament chairman.

The BNP Paribas Open, for the first time in its 20-year combined (men & women) history will offer equal prize money to both men and women. The event is also adding another evening session on Thursday, March 12 which will make 21 sessions of match play. Last year, more than 330,000 people attended the two-week event, a ten-fold increase since its inception, making it the most-attended tournament in the world outside of the four grand slams.

The tournament, which was established in the Coachella Valley in 1976, has blossomed under the direction of former player and ATP board member Charlie Pasarell. It has evolved from a one-week men’s event into one of the sport’s crown jewels, held in the second largest, and certainly one of the most beautiful, venues in the world. In addition, the event is run by one of the strongest ownership groups in all of sports, and is now sponsored by one of the world’s foremost banks and the longest running supporters in the history of professional tennis.

Baudouin Prot, Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas said, “BNP Paribas has been a sponsor of tennis for more than 35 years. We are deeply committed to this relationship and we believe that the sponsorship of tennis events is part and parcel of the strategy to make the BNP Paribas brand internationally recognised. We are very excited to be joining the Indian Wells family as the title sponsor of a major tennis event in the United States where we have been present and growing for more than three decades.”

BNP Paribas has been supporting tennis since 1973, when it became the Official Sponsor of the French Open. In addition to their partnership with this Grand Slam, the bank became the sponsor of the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris, France. As its international presence was growing, the company became the title sponsor of the Davis and Fed Cup competitions, the Masters Series Monte Carlo and since the acquisition of BNL in 2006, the "Internazionali BNL d’Italia" in Rome. In the US, the company is already title sponsor of the Bank of the West Classic women’s event at Stanford, California (BancWest is a BNP Paribas subsidiary).

“We are thrilled to have BNP Paribas as the new title sponsor of our event,” said Pasarell. “During this partnership, we believe we will guide our tournament to greater heights, both in terms of attendance and global appeal.”

About the BNP Paribas Open
The first major tennis event of the season on U.S. soil, the BNP Paribas Open features more than 300 of the world’s best men and women tennis players and last year more than 330,000 people attended the event. Tickets are available by logging onto www.bnpparibasopen.org, calling the Indian Wells box office, 800-999-1585 or 760-200-8000, or visiting the box office, 78-200 Miles Avenue, Indian Wells, CA 92210.

About BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas (www.bnpparibas.com) is a European leader in global banking and financial services and is one of the 3 strongest banks in the world according to Standard & Poor’s. The group is present in 85 countries, with more than 171,000 employees, including 131.000 in Europe. The group holds key positions in three major segments: Corporate and Investment Banking, Asset Management & Services and Retail Banking. Present throughout Europe in all of its business lines, the bank’s two domestic markets in retail banking are France and Italy. BNP Paribas also has a significant presence in the United States and strong positions in Asia and the emerging markets.

About BNP Paribas and tennis
In 2008, BNP Paribas celebrated the 35th anniversary of its association with the tennis world. Since 1973, BNP Paribas has been actively involved in this sport, regularly increasing its support – both locally and internationally, for families, schools and the community.

Historically, BNP Paribas has had a special relationship with every facet of the tennis world: official global sponsor of Roland Garros for 35 years, sponsor of the Davis Cup since 2001, of the Fed Cup since 2005 and since the acquisition of BNL in 2006, the "Internazionali BNL d’Italia", as well as actively supporting numerous other international competitions (WTA Bank of the West Classic in California, the Monte Carlo Masters Series, BNP Paribas Strasbourg Women’s Open, Grand Prix de Lyon, etc.). BNP Paribas also supports tennis locally in France, and is involved in more than 550 tournaments, including the BNP Paribas family trophy, various training programmes set up by the French Tennis Federation and Yannick Noah’s “Fête le Mur” association.

New Ticket Packages On Sale For The 2009 BNP Paribas Open

New Ticket Packages On Sale For The 2009 BNP Paribas Open

Box Seat Daily Double Offers More Choices and Added Evening Session Benefits Local Charity

Indian Wells, Calif., January 15, 2009 – The 34th annual BNP Paribas Open, to be held March 9-22, 2009 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, is serving up new ticket packages for its fans while benefiting local charity.

The two-week ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier event has added an additional evening session to the tournament on Thursday, March 12, with a special price of only $10 for an upper bowl grandstand ticket. Twenty percent of the proceeds from tickets sold this first evening session will benefit The Champions Volunteer Foundation, an organization comprised of more than 1,000 volunteers who work at the tournament to raise funds for charitable purposes.

The traditional Daily Double ticket package, where fans can buy the same loge seat ticket for both the day and evening sessions, is now being offered in limited box seat sections of the lower bowl. In addition, Coachella Valley residents can receive up to a 30% discount on loge tickets to select sessions. Daily tickets range in price from $10 for the new evening session to $80 for loge seats on the final weekend.

“By offering our fans an additional evening session, with tickets available for only $10, and introducing the new box seat daily double package, we are fulfilling our goal to continually offer more options for our fans to see some of the best tennis in the world,” said Simon. “Making that first evening session into a benefit for our charity, The Champions Volunteer Foundation, allows us to highlight all of the great work they do for our community.”

Click Here for information on all ticket prices and packages, and to purchase. Fans that visit the web site can click virtual tour to see the sightline to the court from any seat in the stadium and those who purchase daily upper bowl tickets can print them at home, saving time once they arrive at the stadium for matches. Patrons can also call (800-999-1585 or 760-200-8000) or visit the Indian Wells box office (78-200 Miles Avenue, Indian Wells, CA, 92210) for tickets.