The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
Polo has been a hard sport to sell in Calfiornia for years, but since 2007 there has been almost no growth. Even though someone may come up with some numbers showing I am wrong, they are clearly BS.
Most sports seem to have suffered in California. In Los Angeles there is no longer a pro football team and they have a base supposedly of over 30 million people. The only sellout is the Lakers and they hold about 17,000 people, so it does not take a big % of the people.
Back to Polo … we have continued to downsize in the California polo venues. Even in San Diego, where they get far more fans than anyone else and maybe all others together, but these are fans not players, patrons or horses. Now we have Winter Polo only in the desert and it has been suffering … the Owners dreamed of Millions and milked it until it nearly buried itself. Then the club didn’t sell to land developers. That sent players running and the term “Graveyard” came about this was at Eldorado Polo Club.
Some people stood up and tried to make a go and it survived because of money they earned from concerts and a huge parking lot contract which kept the gates open. They went from about 140 players at the early part of the decde to 30 or so last year. I would call that downsizing. All of a sudden we only have 3 of the actual club owners playing Polo (there are about 20 or 21 owners) as most are older than me and out of Polo. One of the owners supports teams .. . Geoff Palmer. The others either do not show up or play practice games and support a groom and usaually stable somewhere else, off site.
Then in 2010 they decided they needed more cash, so did a private deal with concert company and now have a bigger bank, but it was not for polo support. They did add a new Cantina (bar/restaurant) with bathrooms so that was an improvement, but nothing else was done to reach the eye or improve Polo at Eldorado.
After all this EMPIRE POLO REOPENS and this is a blessing. The lions are awake again so now there is a venue that makes people survive. The polo community now has a chance to make some money … pros, grooms, horseshoers, feed dealers, etc. It may not be a great deal of income, but it is a heck of a lot better than it has been since 07. Well this was short lived.
Empire is clean, has beautiful grounds and the fields were better. More people seemed happy this past season and there was work in both clubs. Managers worked to let pros play at both places, shoers could rush across and take care of clients on eitherside, vets were happier … damn we might be coming back!
WELL THAT IS BADDDD I GUESS?? We have to stop this growth quick … or that seems to be what is happening. I got a letter earlier this week and Eldorado is rebuilding the WALL of Berlin around their club. I guess we cannot go to the East as into EMPIRE POLO if we are to the West (at Eldorado). I am not sure if cell phones are being scrambled as well, but concrete barriers, iron gates are being put up to send people away, horses and I assume dogs too.
What does this mean … ? No play at both places, no travel between clubs and no way you can make a dime! So why play? Like the Doctor said a year or two ago … it is a “graveyard now” those who stay will be burned and cremated asap.
I have been in the Desert for too long … since 1987 and we had some of the best polo for years at both places. Both clubs made money and we had the time of our lives and lots of friends at both clubs. It was great for Polo. Then in the early part of this century it started going downhill, but things worked. Empire started the concerts and everyone came out on the plus side. Polo became weaker though. We went from 20 goal down to 18 and then on to 12 and hung on. The big Patrons were put out and left like Mannix, but he still did more than others to keep it going while he was there. Valiente left for greener pastures in Florida. ERG and Tommy Lee Jones came and left. Ed Pope is no longer here in the desert either . WHY?
Now we have EMPIRE who wants to build Polo and they are doing what they can to make it the WEST COAST Palm Beach and better! All we get is a WALL in return. This is stupid and it will hurt POLO and Players. I am not sure what the hell it could possibly help.
IF YOU KNOW PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAP . I am sure the person who thought this up is smarter than me, but I have the edge on common sense I bet. I also bet than the LIONS just might eat the farmers next door as this is a little bit DUMB.
Some thoughts …
1)Who will play with little pay? And we know it will be low wages that is the way it is here in the desert.
2 ) WHY is this being done and what is the gain?
3 ) Where do Pros get another job? Or is Eldorado Polo Club raising wages ?
4 ) Is this legal to barricade a Public right of way as I assume 51
is a street not a private drive?
5} Is the Eldorado Board in favor of this ? If so are you leaving Polo to become the local Empire concert parking lot?
I would just like to know where this war is coming from. You might look at the U.S. Financials and see that wars do not pay anymore.
See ya where they do not fight!
Steve Crowder
Steve-
In San Diego, we aren’t able to have concerts or large events due to our lease with the city of San Diego. Our only income is polo and we all know the number of patrons and players is diminishing all over. One thing we have learned is to push the media and push the love of the sport. Sponsors, advertisers and media exposure are bigger than ever in San Diego and it contributes a lot to the success of our season and fan base.
Unfortunately, the desert clubs can’t come to a mutual agreement and benefit from a profitable relationship. There are certain patrons that don’t want to leave Eldorado. Empire appeals to a younger generation and perhaps that is what you need at this time.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Lindsey
Each of these clubs has its own strong points. Other than the ownership I do not think one club has an older contingency than another. Healthy competition is a good thing but putting up concrete road barriers seems like a counter productive measure. I do not know the whole story as to why El Dorado did this but it seems a bit drastic. Really all this did is hurt the actual players (patrons and players).
What if a patron playing at El Dorado is leasing horses from someone stabled at Empire?
What if a patron or pro wants to show a horse for sale at Empire and they are stabled at El Dorado?
What is a vet is needed at El Dorado immediately and the vet is working on a horse at Empire?
I understand you will now have to load a horse or horses into a trailer and drive on the roads surrounding the clubs?
On and on…..maybe we will better understand why this was done and what the benefit is in the future….
Dear Mr Crowder
It is unfortunate that in your absence from the desert in the last few years, you may have lost touch with ‘desert reality.’ It is also unfortunate that the conclusions you draw based on a lack of information are to the detriment of Eldorado: a club that served you and your family’s polo career for so many years.
Here some of your questions may be answered:
Eldorado was not the first to erect a fence: the lions erected a gate between the 2 clubs years ago, and it is primarily used to block Eldorado polo traffic and Cantina traffic at the discretion of Empire.
Eldorado is certainly not interested in a war. There are many players at Eldorado who are HAPPY to be there. The fields are not dangerous, the place is not run by a monarchy, and the ideals of polo that founded the club over 50 years ago are still in effect.
Eldorado welcomes patrons and pros to play at both clubs; there is no discrimination against players.
Eldorado did indeed make a deal with concert promoters, and all of the profit from that event has been invested back into the polo club.
In the interest of the WELFARE of Eldorado players and ponies, the club decided to cease Empire’s constant heavy truck traffic on the exercise track. Avenue 51 is not blocked.
Indeed, the owners are aging, as are you and I Mr. Crowder; but many of them make a point of supporting Sunday polo and club events throughout the season. Sundays at Eldorado are still about polo, not rock n roll.
The Eldorado Board is keenly aware of the positive changes around the club, and they are excited about the 2011-2012 Eldorado season.
Perhaps you would best be served to visit Eldorado on a Sunday. Enjoy polo, and then enjoy a beer in the Cantina. Likely you will see a few of your Lions den mates there, since even they can’t resist crossing the battle lines for a polo party.
If Eldorado is indeed the graveyard you IMAGINE it to be, a certain majority of people look forward to such an amazing final resting place.
Sincerely yours,
Friend of Eldorado
Thanks for the response and explanation….I think it was needed!
I think there is still the question on whether Eldorado is going to keep the cement blocks up that are closing off the entrance for horses and foot traffic from the stabling area at the corner of 52 and Madison. How are the horses and players going to get to and from their games? The players that stable there play at both clubs and they lease out horses to players at both clubs.
Will these blocks be removed once the season starts?
The explanation doesn’t really make sense to me. Please correct me if I am wrong …
Trucks loaded with horses and spectators drive on the left side of the exercise track all of the time during the season to access the fields there. A well maintained track recovers from car and truck traffic everyday during the season after the crew works on it. Plus the sets usually stick to the inside right side of the track. So this explanation of why they put up the barriers doesn’t make sense to me.
It is not really their reason that matters …
If there is some other reason Eldo doesn’t want Empire’s trucks crossing property lines to access that area, why don’t they just just talk to Empire about it and work it out? I don’t think their reason really matters, it is just how they are going about it that is the issue. If they own the property and have the legal right to prevent Empire from accessing their land on 52nd & Madison through that route, Eldo doesn’t need fences and blockades to stop them. It just doesn’t make sense to me.
As for the gate on 51 that Empire has … I’ve been involved in polo in the desert about 12 years and I have personally observed that the only time that gate is closed during the day is when there is a big event going on at Empire and traffic needs to be controlled so the public doesn’t wander in through the polo grounds. You want that fence closed when there is the dog show or the arts festival. The last thing you want is a ton of traffic passing through 51 during polo. The only other time I’ve seen it closed is later at night after polo is over. It does not block polo traffic going to Eldorado. That is simply not true.
All I can say in reply is that if the blockades don’t come down by the time the season starts this will be a HUGE problem for players, grooms, farriers and vets at BOTH clubs. Ave. 51 is not the issue. It is the multiple stabling areas that can no longer be accessed from inside Eldorado. As it is set up now, players, grooms, etc. will have to exit the club and drive around to the outside entrances to access the various stabling areas.
Thank you Steve for bringing the concerns of the players to the surface and for giving them a voice. You always speak up for the players and the workers in the industry. Their voices aren’t always heard and it takes courage to always be the one on the soap box trying to make a difference!
Dear Steve:
You’re correct, polo in California has to change in order for it to have a future. As has been pointed out to successive USPA District Governors (Brent, Richardson, Nesbitt) due to the collapse in clubs (Frisco Under the Bridge when Peter Brent went to Hawaii, Turlock when Conant Sr. died, Los Angeles Equestrian Centre). The decline of polo at Menlo when Mac Jason quit high goal and the inability of Santa Barbara, Mills Park and San Diego since Godspeed left to generate Patrons, polo in California is dying. Polo in the Desert is destination polo as there is no inherent large population to draw Patrons from. The last Patron from Santa Barbara is Pat Nesbitt. The life blood of polo are those who support teams – – – – – what is California doing to generate this support? Nothing is evident. If there are no new Patrons, there is no succession plan for most clubs.
While Eldorado has six or seven shareholders who play, there are at least two, Palmer as you said but also Triangle Bar has supported a team.
The lions are certainly back, but you are reminded that lions eat their young! Certainly Eldorado should be assured that people on their grounds have signed a release and have paid appropriate fees for use of the track, stick and ball areas and chukkers. The polo club which rents the grounds from Lake Farms has to protect the property rights of Lake Farms. As to “a wall”: access to Eldorado for players, horses and cars is Avenue 51 and vice versa to Empire.
Triangle Bar for one does not believe that Empire’s fields are better. They refuse to let their teams play on Empire’s fields as the second last game played there saw the destruction of three very good playing horses of their team. It is rumoured that the spot where Haagen Sr., his groom and a girl all went down this year is the same spot, or close to, where Julio Zavaleta’s horse (that had to be destroyed) went down. The personal medical costs or the costs of one good horse are more than the savings on playing fees and stabling.
Fred P. Mannix