Raymond Moore Stats
Born August 24, 1946 in Johannesburg, South Africa
Resides in Palm Desert, CA
Web site http://www.iwtg.com
- participated in 12 Davis Cup ties for South Africa from 1967 to 1977
- won 8 doubles titles and was finalist another 12 times
- Doubles partners: Buchholz, Fleming, Tanner, Nastase, Drysdale, Ralston
- Career high singles ranking: 34
- Career high doubles ranking: 137
President, PM Sports Management Corp.
The Indian Wells Tournament
The name Ray Moore is irrevocably and permanently connected to the famous Indian Wells tennis tournament which is now, in its 35thyear, called the BNP Paribas Open. Humble beginnings and unprecedented growth from the Mission Hills Country Club in 1976, via La Quinta Resort, Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, to today’s Indian Wells Tennis Garden, show the milestones this tournament has passed and Ray Moore has been along for most of that time.
When Ray Moore’s and Charlie Pasarell’s paths crossed again after their active pro-tour career had ended, history was in the making for the Coachella Valley, California’s famous desert oasis and home to many of Hollywood’s rich and famous. During the 5 years at La Quinta Resort the two friends started a cooperation that led to the formation of a partnership known as PM Sports Management. The company’s main goal of expanding the tournament in the Valley culminated in the building of the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, where Moore became Tennis Director in 1986. He and Tournament Director Pasarell saw the tournament grow year after year, becoming a combined ATP and WTA event, and outgrowing its home again towards the end of the nineties.
PM Sports Management started planning a new tennis center to accommodate a much larger event. When the Indian Wells Tennis Garden with a 16,100 seat stadium and outer 24 courts was completed in 2000 and the tournament moved there, both partners knew a new era had started. Expansion to a 96 player field for both men’s and women’s draws, meant the tournament grew to a two week event and began to create a real Grand Slam feel in the region.
Moore and Pasarell went through challenging times managing huge financial requirements and taking in new partners, in order to stay afloat, keep the tournament growing and – keep it in town. Other US cities and even foreign countries became interested in the very lucrative ATP / WTA license and calendar slot for the event. And towards the end of 2009, shortly after the tournament announced the addition of BNP Paribas Bank, the premier sponsor of tennis globally, as the new title sponsor of the event, it was Moore who was able to land the biggest fish to guarantee its future: Larry Ellison. The BNP Paribas web site states: “The co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation formed Tennis Ventures, LLC and became the new owner of the event and the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Ellison, a tennis aficionado, continues to rely on Pasarell, Moore and their staff to manage the event, which celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2010.”
Today the BNP Paribas Open is the most-attended tennis tournament in the world outside of the Grand Slams. It is one of the few major events combining both men and women over a two-week period on the ATP World Tour and WTA, held every March at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. In 2011 almost 350,000 people attended the event, marking a more than ten fold increase since the start of the tournament.
2012 BNP Paribas Open
Ray Moore is proud to announce that he and his staff continue to expand and improve the tournament each year, focusing on three main areas: Players, visitors, and friends/vendors of the tournament. The installation of Hawk-Eye as well as video monitors on every Championship Court was already a huge success with the 2011 crowd. For 2012 the following improvements are planned or are already in place:
- A huge shaded structure is being erected over the entire food court seating area. The stage is being moved under the new structure and creates a new and exciting, shaded entertainment center for the facility.
- The outside practice courts always attract huge crowds and were outfitted with permanent seats.
“We want to present the sport of tennis in the absolute best possible way,” says Moore. He adds, “This is not just an event were you see great tennis players hit the balls. We are creating a hi-tech experience for our attendees. With great food, an amazing retail experience, video screens.”
Since Larry Ellison decided to re-invest every dollar earned into the tournament, the management team of Moore, Pasarell, and (Tournament Director) Steve Simon almost feel like “kids in a candy store.” Moore explains with enthusiasm and a deep respect for the new owner, “Larry cares about our sport. Although he requires all his ventures to be profitable, of course, the bottom line is not his number one concern in Indian Wells. It’s the sport, the experience we create.” He adds that the tournament shows steady growth of about 6-10% every year. “We are very happy with BNP Paribas Bank as our title sponsor at least through 2013, and hopefully much longer.” The plans are ambitious. Moore is confident to see the BNP Paribas Open hit the 500,000 visitors mark in the near future.
Ray Moore outside of tennis
There are two areas outside of tennis that fascinate Ray Moore: Wine and Rock Music memorabilia. He owns a vineyard together with his sister Corinne, called the Wine Tree Farm in Northern California’s Amador City. Located in the Shenandoah Valley, on the foothills of the Sierras, Corinne has specialized in Syrah and Rhône style wines, like the Rhône blend Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Moore has some outstanding and rare wines in his private cellar, like a 1986 Chateau Lafite or a 1982 Château Haut-Brion.
In his heart, Ray Moore may as well be a hippie and a rocker. His private collection of rock memorabilia, some of them signed originals, decorate his office at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Visitors expecting tennis pictures and memorabilia may be disappointed. From a numbered rare lithograph of a John Lennon drawing to a signed Rolling Stones electric guitar, Moore displays his love for music and what made the rock era great.
10 Questions for Ray Moore
- If you hadn't gone into tennis, where would you have gone in life?
I was a good Cricket player before tennis. I would have probably gone into Cricket. - If you retired today, what would you do?
I can’t think of retirement at all. I enjoy working too much. The only thing I could think of is maybe I’d be running a Blues Club with live music. - What is your favorite tennis book?
“A Handful of Summers” by Gordon Forbes - Why do you think British tennis players have such a hard time winning Grand Slams?
I think the British system of producing tennis players is just not right. And it’s not the weather that’s to blame. In the 60ies John Barrett led the British training squad, the “Barrett Boys” to much success. Great players came out of this Hopman style camp, like the John Lloyd and his brother David. - What is your favorite tennis tournament?
No question: The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells! - In Pro-Tennis, if you had the power to make a historic decision, what would you change today?
I would change the Davis Cup completely. Like turning it into a 3-year event, with 16 countries per section, with home and away matches. - If you were able to start all over, what would you do different in regards to your tennis career?
I would have gone more to a Hopman style training for the tour. - Are we in the USA doing the right things to develop future tennis champions?
We have lots of qualified USTA officials working on that, like McEnroe, Gullikson, Higueras. Tennis is a global sport and those kinds of things go in cycles. I’m sure the USA will be back on top again. - What can the USTA learn from other countries' tennis associations?
They should listen to the players like Patrick McEnroe, Jose Higueras, and Stan Smith, and not interfere that much. Give them more freedom and flexibility and they’ll be alright. - Who is for you the greatest tennis player of all time?
That depends on the criteria for greatest player. I think Lew Hoad, Pancho Gonzalez, Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer all belong in that group.
Thank you, Ray Moore!
Do you have a comment to this story? Have you been to Indian Wells? Visited the BNP Paribas Open or the Pacific Life Open as it was called before? Please comment and share. Thank you!
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Ray Moore
IndianWells Tennis Garden, BNP Paribas Open, Charlie Pasarell, PM Sports Management, Tennis Ventures LLC
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