ChukkerTV, the leader in polo broadcasting worldwide, will live stream the April 19th championship final of the 111th U.S. Open at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
The “Super Bowl” of polo is the final leg of America’s Triple Crown of the 26-goal tournament season in Wellington, Fla., the winter polo capital of the world.
ChukkerTV, an independent media company, was the first to introduce state-of-the-art live streaming technology in January, 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, where it got rave reviews about its cutting-edge technology and ability to promote the sport to a larger audience.
Well-known polo announcer Toby Wayman will provide play-by-play along with several current and former players providing color analysis throughout the broadcast.
The Chukker.TV production staff will provide full game coverage including pre-game and post-game shows in addition to promotional videos leading up to the final.
“We are very excited and super thrilled,” said Chukker.TV president and executive producer Mike Ferreira. “The U.S. Open is the Super Bowl of polo and we plan on covering it that way. We plan to pull out all stops and do some amazing coverage.
“We have a large audience around the world that is going to be very excited that we are live streaming this game,” Ferreira said. “We are the only network that has done every single high goal game this season.”
Since 1996, the U.S. Open has been held in South Florida. IPC has hosted the event since 2004.
Historically, the U.S. Open has always been the grand prize of polo in North America, one of three 26-goal Triple Crown tournaments at IPC and oldest tournament in the U.S. It’s also one of the three top tournaments in the world. The others are the Argentine and British Opens.
“It is the Holy Grail of polo,” said Audi player patron Marc Ganzi of Wellington, whose team won in 2009, been in two other finals (2010, 2011) and is among favorites this year.
Eight teams are in the U.S. Open including Orchard Hill, the winningest team this season. Orchard Hill has been in three of four tournament finals. Defending champion Alegria has already been eliminated. Last year Alegria knocked off favorite Valiente, 11-10, in overtime, in the U.S. Open final.
The U.S. Open field features four of the world’s top polo players. Four 10-goalers are competing including Adolfo Cambiaso of Valiente, Pelon Stirling of Coca-Cola, Juan Martin Nero of Lechuza Caracas and Facundo Pieres of Orchard Hill.
Grand Champions was also the first polo club in the world to offer the technology of instant replay and team challenges to help improve the sport and officiating. Teams are allowed to challenge an umpire’s call during a game with the help of instant replay. The use of instant replay and team challenges during the 26-goal season have made a positive impact on the game, being praised by both players and patrons.
It is the first time in the sport’s history, instant replay and team challenges are being utilized. No club in the world has used the technology. Only replays are used in Argentina and other tournaments around the world.
Chukker TV has live streamed every 26-goal game in the C.V. Whitney Cup, Piaget USPA Gold Cup and U.S. Open, which still has the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds remaining on Sunday and Wednesday.
Earlier this year, Chukker.TV made history in the sport by becoming the first to broadcast a major stadium game live worldwide in IPC’s 12-year history.
Chukker.TV also offers re-broadcasts. This year Chukker.TV introduced Video On Demand allowing players, patrons and fans to go online and purchase games in high definition.