A surprisingly thin crowd during Victoria Mboko’s dominant win over Amanda Anisimova at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open has prompted tournament organizers to reconsider a recent ticketing change at Stadium 2. The match, which featured a rising prospect defeating a two-time Grand Slam finalist in straight sets, unfolded in front of large patches of empty seats on what is typically one of the tournament’s busiest courts.
Scheduling Realities Behind the Amanda Anisimova vs Victoria Mboko Match at Indian Wells
The situation highlights the often-overlooked complexity behind scheduling and ticketing at major tennis events such as the BNP Paribas Open. Organizers must balance numerous competing factors, including player preferences, television broadcast windows across different time zones, and fan demand for marquee names.
Early rounds are typically easier to map out, but once the tournament progresses, match placements are finalized only a day in advance.
Historically, Stadium 2 served as a hub for grounds pass holders, who could enter the court with a general admission ticket and move freely between Courts 2 through 9. That structure often ensured lively crowds, particularly during evening matches when fans finished exploring the grounds and settled in for one last contest.
This year, however, the tournament altered that formula by converting Stadium 2 seating in the upper sections from general admission to fully reserved seating, similar to the policy used in Stadium 1. As a result, spectators who purchased only grounds passes no longer had access to the court.
The change created an unexpected side effect during night sessions. While tickets for Stadium 2 technically sold out or nearly sold out most days, many seat holders did not remain for the entire slate of matches.
The difference became noticeable during Mboko’s 6-4, 6-1 victory over Anisimova in the fourth round, where the sparse audience contrasted sharply with the electric atmosphere that typically surrounds breakout performances at Indian Wells.
How Are Tournament Organizers Addressing the Empty-Seat Issue at Stadium 2?
In a statement released Tuesday, Mar. 10, tournament officials acknowledged they are reviewing the change. “As the tournament continues to grow, we are always evaluating opportunities to improve our programming and operations, including ticketing offerings and the fan experience,” organizers said.
“In advance of this year’s tournament, we decided to evolve ticket offerings in Stadium 2 to change the upper bowl seat sales from general admission to reserved ticketing. Like every decision we make, we carefully evaluate it after each tournament’s conclusion and that analysis informs future policies.”
Despite criticism of Stadium 2’s crowd dynamics, overall attendance at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open has remained strong. The event even set a single-day attendance record of nearly 59,000 spectators on the first Friday of the tournament, underscoring the sport’s growing popularity.
