Where is it? The Netflix Slam is held at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
When is it? The Sunday before Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open)
What time does it start? The real match will start at 1pm (PT) with mixed doubles and a serving contest starting at 11am (PT). WARNING: We arrived at 11:15 am and the line to get into the arena was over a mile long. We ended up not actually getting in until closer to 12:15/12:20 so we had completely missed the mixed doubles and most of the serving competition. Please wear comfy shoes as they wound the line all through the back corridors of the casino/conference area and we ended up walking over a mile before we actually entered the event.
Where to purchase tickets? Tickets are sold at Ticket Master but you can find tickets on Stubhub or other sites leading up to the slam.
How much does it cost? I purchased tickets from Ticket Master when they went on sale and was able to snag 2 tickets in the upper section for $200ish each. Tickets in the lower section were closer to $500ish each.
Where to stay? Most hotels on the strip are great. We stayed at the MGM Grand and took a taxi to the Mandalay Bay. Our taxi ride was roughly $12 and took about 10 mins. You can’t really go wrong with any of the newer hotels, they all have plenty of restaurants, shops, gambling, etc. Some of my favorites are Aria and the Cosmopolitan.
How to get there? If the weather is nice and you are staying in any neighboring hotels, you could walk. Otherwise, Taxi’s are a good option and usually fast and not too expensive. Beware, that after the event, the taxi line will be VERY long so either plan to walk home after or explore any of the restaurants or shopping in or connected to the Mandalay Bay for a while until the Taxi line dies down. We went and grabbed some food in one of the restaurants afterwards and by the time we were ready to take a taxi back, the line was back to normal.
Can you meet the players? Not likely unless you are sitting near the player walk out entrance or in the lower section behind the players benches. Fans gathered after the match behind the umpire chair/player benches and they signed some autographs.
Was there merchandise sold? No
Are there concessions? Yes. Not a lot of options but they did serve alcohol (beer, wine, some cocktails) and some snacks like nachos and cheese, popcorn, candy, etc.
Can you take bags inside? Yes. You are allowed to take a small purse inside. It does NOT have to be clear. You will have to walk through a metal detector and they will glance through your bag if you take one. PLEASE NOTE: these guidelines may change going forward so please check the Michelob Ultra Arena website prior to your visit for details.
Was it fun? Yes. This exhibition match was a lot of fun and I enjoyed that it was only a few hours long. I got my tennis fix but had the afternoon and evening to explore Vegas and see a show.
Is it kid friendly? Yes. There were several families there with children.