For four years, Andy Taylor hosted the action on Stadium-2 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. His responsibilities were similar to those at the US Open, with a lot more emphasis on “emcee.” At the Open, Andy is typically locked in a booth high above Arthur Ashe Stadium announcing the players, hard-selling their bios, and lending voice to giveaways and sponsor mentions. During play, he’s voicing grounds-announcements, videos, and anything that requires narration.

As the Stadium-2 host in Indian Wells, his responsibilities were simplified: Bring the players on the court, deliver their bios, handle sponsor mentions during sit-downs, interview the winner for international television, rinse and repeat.

With a stadium one-third the size of Arthur Ashe, for Andy, the experience was amazing. In 2013, fans were right on-top of the action; the players within spitting distance. You could feel the intensity – every “Vamos!”, every frustrated scream, every argument with the chair umpire, all within earshot. You couldn’t help but absorb the drama. As a tennis fan, these are the best settings to experience the game.

By 2014, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden had grown and Andy inherited a brand new stadium replete with three restaurants and every possible convenience for the ultimate fan experience. Stadium-2 became the premiere second show-court in tennis; a favorite among fans and players alike. After a thrilling doubles win in the stadium’s first year, Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka took time to praise the tournament and its owner Larry Ellison for remarkably erecting the edifice in just 10-months and 10-days (see the video above).

While he absolutely adored the event, Andy Taylor retired from his role at Indian Wells after the 2016 BNP Paribas Open to focus his time and energy during the month of March on voice over – a very busy time of year for that aspect of his business.

While he continues to host tennis tournaments internationally the rest of the year, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden remains one of his favorite sites, with incredible hospitality in one of the most picturesque settings on tour.