Polo is back with National Polo Center kicking off winter season with NPC Inaugural Cup

Sharon Robb
·4 min read

WELLINGTON — The newly rebranded National Polo Center kicks off the winter season with its first championship final on Sunday.

The NPC Inaugural Cup, hosted by the Wellington Polo Tour, is the first tournament final at 3 p.m. featuring Patagones (Carlitos Gracida, Benjamin Avendano/Wes Finlayson, Joaquin Avendano, Michel Dorignac) against La Fe (Rufino Merlos, Louis Devaleix, Francisco Elizalde, Robi Bilbao). In Thursday's semifinals, Patagones was a 10-9 overtime winner over Dazos and La Fe, also a 10-9 OT winner over Beverly Polo.In June 2022, the U.S. Polo Association, the sport's governing body, purchased the International Polo Club Palm Beach from Wellington Equestrian Partners, securing a permanent epicenter for polo in South Florida.

After successfully hosting the XII FIP World Polo Championship in November, the National Polo Center will now host new and returning tournaments through April.

With five fields, the USPA hopes to showcase its tournaments, attract and develop more American players and create an environment much like the hallowed fields of Palermo and Pilar fields, controlled by the Argentine Polo Association.

The USPA has spent the past six months improving the fields and property, which features restaurants, grandstand, clubhouse, social club, pool, gym and tennis courts.

Sunday ticket prices are more affordable and USPA Polo Network will live stream between 60 and 70 games for free in hopes of attracting a larger fan base and more people interested in playing polo.

The crown jewel of the season returns for the fifth consecutive year with the three-part series Gauntlet of Polo featuring the Feb. 12-16 $50,000 C.V. Whitney Cup; March 1-26 $50,000 USPA Gold Cup; and March 29-April 23 $100,000 U.S. Open Polo Championship.

The Gauntlet of Polo series has attracted most of the world's top players including father and son Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres.

At 17, Poroto Cambiaso was raised to 10 goals after winning the 129th Hurlingham Open and 129th Argentine Open. He is the youngest player in history to be ranked at the top handicap. The Cambiasos, playing for La Dolfina Saudi, also became only the second father-and-son combo to win the Argentine Open.

Among other NPC highlights are the Feb. 19 USPA Junior Open final and March 9-19 U.S. Open Women's Polo Championship.

The first Florida Circuit 16-Goal Super Series and the inaugural Florida Circuit 8-Goal Super Series have also been added to the tournament lineup. The games will be played at multiple clubs including the Villages, International Polo School and Port Mayaca with the finals hosted by the NPC.

The Westchester Cup will be played on U.S. soil this season with the U.S., captained by 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Hall, playing England on March 31.

Unlike past seasons, the live-stream and on-demand tournaments will be available for free on the USPA Polo Network at uspolo.org and all USPA social media channels including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Twitch.

“The most challenging and promising aspect of this change is to improve and innovate the live production for USPA members, followers and other fans of the sport,” said USPA Executive Director of Communications Matt Baran.

“With the games broadcast across multiple platforms for free, we will be able to reach a wider global audience and engage them in the sport of polo. Our goal is to build life-long fans of the sport and inspire them to pick up a mallet."

Tickets are available for the 2 p.m. brunch and stadium seating at nationalpolocenter.com. On Sundays, general admission for stadium seating is $25, and field-side tailgate ranges from $36 to $200. The NPC is at 3667 120th Avenue South. For information, call 561-204-5687 or hotline 561-282-5290.

2023 NATIONAL POLO CENTER WINTER SCHEDULE

Sunday, NPC Inaugural Cup, final 3 p.m.Jan.-April, 8-Goal Super SeriesJan. 4-22, Joe Barry MemorialJan. 20-Feb. 12, Ylvisaker CupFeb. 11, Future 10s Game, 3 p.m. and U.S. Polo Assn 40-Goal Challenge, 3:30 p.m.Feb. 10-March 5, Iglehart CupFeb. 12-26, C.V. Whitney CupFeb. 19, USPA Junior Open FinalFeb. 26-March 26, Continental CupMarch 1-26, USPA Gold CupMarch 9-19, U.S. Open Women's ChampionshipMarch 29-April 23, U.S. OpenMarch 31, Westchester Cup, U.S. vs. EnglandApril 5-9, Florida Circuit 16-Goal Super Series Championship

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: NPC Inaugural Cup opens winter polo season in Wellington