THE 2020 GAUNTLET OF POLO™ NATIONAL MEDIA DAY RELEASES NEW DETAILS ON THE HIGHEST STAKES POLO TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD
Players, Sponsors, Supporters and Media Share in the Excitement
The GAUNTLET OF POLO™, the elite three-tournament series featuring 14 polo teams, including some of the best players and polo ponies in the world, will feature a new prize structure for the 2020 series. The series is officially underway now through April 19 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), one of the largest and highest profile venues in all of polo.
This announcement, among many others, was made at the invitation only 2020 GAUNTLET OF POLO™ National Media Day last evening at the USPA Global Licensing Creative Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. as a launch to this year’s prestigious GAUNTLET series of tournaments. With a room packed with community and industry leaders as well as players, sponsors, supporters and media partners, the GAUNTLET OF POLO™ presentation featured special guests, player Q&A, exciting video and a sneak peak at the spectacular GAUNTLET trophy.
The evening was presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and hosted by United States Polo Association (USPA), USPA Global Licensing (USPAGL) and Global Polo Entertainment (GPE).
“There is nothing about polo that is ordinary. In fact, the GAUNTLET OF POLO™ series is extraordinary,” said Stewart Armstrong, Chairman of USPA who played in last years’ inaugural GAUNTLET OF POLO™. “The intensity of the game is incomparable. As players, we leave it all on the field. And the fans get to see the best of the best in polo.”
The New Prize Structure:
“Last year, we had a winner sweep the series by winning all three events, but this year we are giving the second-place finisher of each of the tournaments the ability to win a portion of the prize,” explained Bob Puetz, CEO of USPA. This revision to the prize structure rewards the hard work and perseverance that is needed to excel over the three-month long competition.”
The GAUNTLET OF POLO™ total purse is $1 million. In the new prize giving format, second place teams will now have the opportunity to share in the total prize fund. The winning team of the C.V. Whitney Cup and the USPA Gold Cup® will receive $100,000 per tournament and the second-place teams will receive $25,000. The winning team of the U.S. Open Polo Championship® will receive $200,000 and the second-place team will receive $50,000. The team winning all three USPA tournaments will receive an additional $500,000 bonus and be crowned the GAUNTLET Champion.
According to David Cummings, Chairman of USPAGL and President & CEO of GPE, “Our goal with the GAUNTLET OF POLO™ was to create the greatest polo stage in the world to showcase the best of polo in the U.S. I believe we are accomplishing just that, as the GAUNTLET has been well received and a huge success.”
The 2020 series began last week with the C.V. Whitney Cup, which is being played from February 5-23 commemorating its 40th year of competition, followed by the USPA Gold Cup® from February 22-March 22. The series concludes, March 21-April 19, with the U.S. Open Polo Championship®. All three tournaments will be contested at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) on the U.S. Polo Assn. stadium field with live game coverage on globalpolo.com.
Polo games, events and the club at IPC provide year-round value to Palm Beach County. George Linley, Executive Director of Palm Beach County Sports Commission added, “We are fortunate to have IPC, the unique sport of polo and the excitement of the GAUNTLET OF POLO™ events right here in Wellington.”
The GAUNTLET OF POLO™ will be featured in the Palm Beach Sports Commission’s “Perfect Week of Sports” campaign on February 23, where throughout six action-packed days you can catch five different sports in Palm Beach County.
“With U.S. Polo Assn. being the official brand of the USPA, we are extremely proud to be the primary sponsor of the GAUNTLET OF POLO™ series,” said USPAGL President & CEO J. Michael Prince. “We are also honored to work so closely with all 14 teams who will be wearing our double houseman logo on their jerseys throughout this incredible competition.”
GAUNTLET OF POLO™ Player Quotes:
Jared Zenni: To win GAUNTLET OF POLO™, it’s a combination of me, my team and the horses; we all have to be at our best.
Geronimo Obregon: The GAUNTLET OF POLO™ is all or nothing. You’re competing against the best guys in the world.
How fans can watch all three GAUNTLET OF POLO™ tournaments:
- Live on site at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida.
- USPA Polo Network livestreamed games and highlights online at globalpolo.com.
- CBS Sports will air the U.S. Open Polo Championship® final on Sunday, April 26 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Tickets for all GAUNTLET OF POLO™ games on the U.S. Polo Assn. stadium field are available at https://www.uspolo.org/gauntlet-of-polo/2020. A variety of ticket options can be purchased online in advance, on game day at the gate or by phone at 561-282-5334.
ABOUT:
Founded in 1890, the United States Polo Association (USPA) is the national non-profit governing body for the sport of polo, comprised of almost 300 member clubs and thousands of individual members. For more on the United States Polo Association, visit www.uspolo.org.
USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL) is the for-profit subsidiary of the USPA and the exclusive worldwide licensor for the USPA’s global licensing program. USPAGL manages the global, multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand and is the steward of the USPA’s intellectual properties, providing the sport with a long-term source of revenue.
U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA). With a global footprint of $1.7 billion and worldwide distribution through more than 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores, department stores, independent retailers and e-commerce, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel for men, women and children, as well as accessories, footwear, travel and home goods in 180 countries worldwide. Recently ranked the 4th largest sports licensor and 36th overall in License Global magazine’s 2019 list of “Top 150 Global Licensors”, U.S. Polo Assn. now takes its place alongside such iconic sports brands as Major League Baseball, National Football League and National Basketball Association. For more information on U.S. Polo Assn., visit www.uspoloassnglobal.com.
Global Polo EntertainmentTM (GPE) is a subsidiary of USPA Global Licensing, responsible for creating, distributing and monetizing content opportunities across the entire USPA enterprise.
Additionally, GPE produces global broadcasts to bring the sport of polo to millions of consumers and sports fans around the world. Watch live-stream games online at globalpolo.com.
The International Polo Club Palm Beach is the premier polo destination in the world, hosting the largest field of high-goal teams and the most prestigious polo tournaments in the United States. Polo matches are open to the public, with a wide range of hospitality and guest seating that includes elegant grandstand viewing, field tailgating, stadium seating, field-side champagne brunch at The Pavilion, and exclusive sponsor boxes.
