The final structural beam was placed atop the new Stadium 2 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden (IWTG) on Tuesday, August 6 in a “topping out” celebration presented by Watkins Landmark Construction. The new stadium is on schedule to be completed in time for the 2014 BNP Paribas Open to be held March 3-16, 2014.
Construction workers, IWTG Staff, members of the design and engineering teams, Watkins Landmark Employees, and other dignitaries in attendance signed the 15-foot beam to recognize the hard work and dedication of everyone involved to help this new structure come to fruition. The beam was then hoisted to its final resting place on the top of an elevator shaft on the northeast corner of the stadium. On hand to speak at the ceremony were Raymond Moore, CEO of the BNP Paribas Open and IWTG; Jody James Watkins, President and CEO of Watkins Landmark Construction; and Mary Roche, Mayor of the City of Indian Wells.
“This BNP Paribas Open and Indian Wells Tennis Garden ‘Topping Out’ ceremony is a celebration of the hard work that has been put into getting the structure where it is today,” said Moore. “However, this ceremony is also a landmark in the construction process, signifying that the home stretch is quickly approaching. The new Stadium 2 will be an outstanding facility for our fans come next March, when the tennis stars and fans from around the world descend upon Indian Wells.”
The new Stadium 2 officially broke ground in March during the 2013 BNP Paribas Open, which is currently home to the second-largest tennis stadium in the world. The facility will feature 8,000 seats and space for three restaurants. This is part of an overall site expansion that also includes a marquee site entrance on Washington Street with a new box office, a new 19,000 square foot shade structure identical to the one built in 2012, four additional practice courts, expansion of the current Miles Street entrance, an upgraded accessible parking area on the north side, an additional grass parking space for up to 2,000 cars, and expansion and relocation of the TV Production compound.
“We are so honored to be such a big part of this site expansion,” said Watkins. “This new Stadium 2 is going to add to the already-impressive Indian Wells Tennis Garden and be yet another jewel in the desert.” For more information and to order tickets for the 2014 event, please call the Indian Wells Tennis Garden Box Office at 800-999-1585 or 760-200-8000, or visit www.bnpparibasopen.com.
