Let the Games Begin…The Beach Polo Cup will be played on the beach at the Hotel del Coronado this weekend, September 3-4, 2016.
“We are bringing beach polo to Coronado,” says Randy Russell, event organizer of the marketing firm Polo America. “This is just an incredible event for the city.”
More than fifty prized horses and a dozen polo players will gallop onto the sandy ocean shore for a chance to claim the coveted cup in the first ever Beach Polo event to be played on the West Coast.
The Polo America Beach Polo Cup is a treat for the senses. This will be a first for so many polo players and attendees, as Beach Polo has only been played in two U.S. cities, Miami Beach and on Lake Michigan in Chicago, prior to coming to Coronado. Guests in attendance will marvel at the magnificent beach polo field that Polo America has prepared, by packing down thousands of pounds of sand, and the opulent 10,000 square feet VIP Tent adjoining the field.
The massive VIP Tent consists of three terraces. The first terrace “Millionaire’s Row” boasts 15 lounges, complete with white leather couches and chairs. Food and cocktail service will be available through The Del. The second terrace is formal dining. The luncheon each day is provided by Hotel del Coronado. The third terrace is the Polo Village, featuring the event’s prestigious sponsor boutiques from Joseph Goott Fine Jewelry, Ermenegildo Zegna, Grayse, Porsche of San Diego, Silver Seas Yachts, Leisure Society, Flexjet, and Contemporary Gallery.
According to Russell, “NBC Sports is coming out to televise this, so it’s basically going to be a one hour commercial for Coronado.” The network plans to broadcast the event nationally on December 10th at 3:00 pm.
If Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous was still on the air, they would be standing in line to cover the Polo America Beach Polo Cup. The net wealth of the attendees is expected to be in the billions, so ladies, channel your inner Pretty Woman polo style and men, prove you are just as suave as Richard Gere as you rub elbows with the ”who’s who” of upscale society. The spectacle of polo, the historic Hotel del Coronado and the ocean make the perfect backdrop for an incredible weekend. Attendees will be treated to two polo games each day, a meet and greet wine reception with the players, gourmet lunch, a fashion show by Grayse, a hat contest, Tango with the polo players, and much more.
According to Russell, Coronado has a long history with polo dating back to the early 1900s when John D. Spreckels first introduced polo to Coronado. “The famous Spreckels Cup was first played in Coronado in 1909 as the Polo Challenge. Today it is still played at the San Diego Polo Club,” says Russell.
Sponsors:
Polo America, Hotel del Coronado, Ermenegildo Zegna, Grayse, Porsche of San Diego, Coronado Tourism Improvement District, U.S. Polo Assn, Aspen Valley Polo Club, Hoffman International Properties, Joseph Goott & Co, Modern Luxury, and Silver Seas Yachts are proud to support Rady Children’s Hospital as the beneficiary of Beach Polo.
Ticket Information:
- Tickets: $250 per person per day
- Tables: $2500 for a table of ten each day
- Millionaire’s Row: $200 per person per day (seating only; front row, white leather couches and chairs; food and beverage not included)
- Millionaire’s Row Box: $2000 (includes seating for 10 people and a $500 food and beverage allowance)
- Second Row Terrace Seating: $75 per person (two polo games, fashion show and boutiques; food and beverages not included)
- Second Row Terrace Table: $600 for 8 people
- Tickets are available by calling 760-668-6093 or www.poloamerica.com.
- Hotel packages are available by calling 1 (800) HOTEL DEL, or www.hoteldel.com.
POLO GAME
Beach Polo is played with the same set of rules as arena polo. There are three players to a side, two umpires and a third official in the stands. They will play four 7 minute chukkers (period of play). Players will change horses after every chukker. Beach Polo, like its counterpart Arena Polo, is the best way to watch polo. The field is roughly the size of a football field. The action is always in front of you. For safety, the players will use an inflatable ball about the size of a soccer ball. On the outdoor field (300 yards by 160 yards) they use a hard plastic ball that can travel over 100 mph.
SITE: HOTEL DEL CORONADO
Hotel del Coronado has been the world’s choice for creating inDELible moments and connections for over 128 years. This majestic oceanfront beach resort boasts 757 guestrooms and location on one of America’s most beloved beaches. The ever-evolving transformation embodies the resort’s character agelessly, blending the legendary past with the relevance of a coastal Southern California lifestyle engaging the senses and captivating the imagination of global guests and San Diego locals alike. Built in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark, Hotel del Coronado is a living legend. Celebrating its rich history as the proud host to celebrities, royalty and beach-loving families, The Del delivers timeless experiences that resonate with modern-day guests offering beachfront dining, an award-winning spa, unique shopping, endless recreation and the luxurious cottages and villas at Beach Village at The Del.
FASHION
Saturday September 3rd, Grayse will host a fashion show between lunch and the 2:00 Polo Game.
Grayse is a modern collection of specialty separates designed to dress women who love quality, luxury, and style. This is Kelly and Marie Gray’s first time collaborating since their departure from St. John Knits almost a decade ago. Most of the collection is produced at the company’s headquarters in Irvine, California. The duo places a high value on timeless style. Each piece is designed with attention to detail, carefully fitted to ensure the most flattering silhouette. The collection features Sequined and embellished tops and dresses, Italian silk printed tunics, and exquisitely detailed leather jackets. Grayse has three retail boutiques and is carried online at www.mkgrayse.com.
Men’s fashion will be highlighted by Ermenegildo Zegna. Their pop-up boutique in the Polo Village on September 2-4 will showcase the latest collections of men’s clothing, tailored suits, shoes, accessories and fragrances. Between now and September 4th Zegna will donate 10% of any purchase to our charity Rady Children’s Hospital if you mention you are attending Beach Polo. In Southern California there are two locations: Rodeo Drive and South Coast Plaza.
PLAYERS / TEAMS
“The polo players are going to be coming in from all around the United States and world to play,” says Russell. “It’s a little different than what you normally see outdoors where there are four players on a team. Instead, each team will have three players. The size of the surface out here is about the size of a single football field. It will make for very interesting play.”
PORSCHE MILLION DOLLAR ROAD RALLY
The Porsche Million Dollar Road Rally will take place on September 2-4 from the Beach Villas at Hotel del Coronado. Teams of three will go out every 20 minutes. Each team will receive two playing cards and will have to earn three more to make a poker hand. The team with the best hand at the end of the day will win a prize. Each 2017 Porsche will take three people and a referee. Each team member will drive one leg of the rally. There will be three legs. One of the stops is the Marina. Silver Seas Yachts will be providing two yachts for this task. When the teams arrive, they will board the yacht and use a joystick to move the yacht out of the slip and do a couple 360s with the yacht and bring it back into the slip. If they’re successful they will receive a card. (Participants must be ticket holders)
POLO LESSONS
Ticket holders will have a rare opportunity to take a polo lesson on the Hotel del Coronado beach on September 2-4, 2016. California Polo Club, the winner of the Polo America Best of the Best “Polo School,” will be bringing horses and instructors for one hour lessons prior to the polo games each day. For $200 they will provide a horse, helmet, mallet and instructor. The school horses are very gentle and perfect for a beginner. Attendees will receive information once they have purchased their tickets.
FORMAL LUNCHEONS
Hotel del Coronado has created two unique dining experiences for Beach Polo:
On Saturday September 3rd they will present a Clam Bake.
On Sunday September 4th a Taste of Argentina, with fifteen different Tapas.
TANGO WITH THE POLO PLAYERS
The post-game party on Sunday will feature renown dance instructor Mary Catherine Callaghan to teach Tango. There will be opportunities to meet and dance with the polo players.
CHARITY
Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego is a 520-bed pediatric care facility that provides the largest source of comprehensive pediatric medical services in San Diego, Southern Riverside and Imperial counties. It is the only hospital in the San Diego area dedicated exclusively to pediatric healthcare and it is the region’s only designated pediatric trauma center. In June 2015, U.S. News & World Report ranked Rady Children’s among the best children’s hospitals in the nation in each of the 10 pediatric specialties the magazine surveyed.
Rady Children’s Hospital relies on donations to support its mission. Proceeds from Polo America’s Beach Polo Event at Hotel del Coronado will help fund Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary Endowment for Neuroscience. Money from the endowment provides clinical genetics, clinical trials, DNA sequencing, bioinformatics and education to help treat and find cures for neurological diseases and disorders in children. For more information, visit www.rchsd.org.
Saturday September 3
8:00 – 10:00 AM Polo lessons on the beach (CA Polo Club)
8:00 – 11:00 AM Porsche Million Dollar Road Rally from Hotel Del
11:30 AM Gates open
11:30 AM Wine reception (VIP tent)
12:00 PM First Polo Game
12:30 PM Luncheon (Clam Bake)
1:30 PM Grayse Fashion Show
2:00 PM National Anthem and Sponsor introductions
2:10 PM Second Polo Game
3:30 PM Trophy presentation
4:00 PM Gates close
Sunday September 4
8:00 – 10:00 AM Polo lessons on the beach (CA Polo Club)
8:00 – 11:00 AM Porsche Million Dollar Road Rally from Hotel Del
11:30 AM Gates open
11:30 PM Wine reception (VIP tent) Hat Day
12:00 PM Polo Game for third and fourth place
12:30 PM Luncheon (Tapas – 15 tastes)
1:40 PM Prizes for Most Elegant, Original and Humorous hat. Winners will receive a $1000 pair of Leisure Society sunglasses
2:00 PM National Anthem and Sponsor introductions
2:05 PM Polo Game Final
3:15 PM Trophy presentation
3:30 PM Post Game Party / Tango lessons / Tango with with Polo Players
