The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
The best known polo player in the world, Nacho Figueras, was back for his fourth trip in Los Angeles at the famous Will Rogers Polo Club. Nacho packed the seats and got more media attention for the sport of polo than any other venue in the U.S.
Nacho continues to be the “Superman” of the polo world and has done an amazing job of gaining exposure to the sport. What we need to do in California is kidnap him and keep him for a year and maybe we could rebuild the golden state of polo. With exciting polo venues such as Empire Polo, which is easily one of the most attractive polo venues in the world, and the excellent Summer weather of the California coast, we should be the # 1 destination for Polo. The sad fact is that we are not even close. If someone would just hire Nacho to stay in the state, we would leap far up the ladder very quickly. Maybe we should vote him in as Governor.
Will Rogers Polo Club is the namesake park in LA and would be the face of West coast Polo if they had the size. It is, however, the most important center for polo in the state because it could be the building block we need for new players and patrons. Once a year Nacho gets them all there. Felise, Andrew, Stephen (those involved in Will Rogers) all see the need to rebuild this venue. The polo community needs to help them. The are the best chance we have to rebuild polo in the Golden State.
Polo is perfect for California so lets do it. We have the mix, just not the dough. Rodney over at California Polo Club is working 24 – 7 to build it. Topo and Andrew keep it going @ Griffith park. Now it is time to make it happen. We have the venues. We just need PEOPLE.
Empire Polo is the Jewel of California and possibly in the world. They are located in the Palm Springs area. There is just no place else like it. Eldorado, the club next door, is under new ownership and doing things to make it better. Santa Barbara has a lot of outside fields so they can handle a great summer run. I just feel we do not have a leader and we need one NOW.
Down South in Argentina we had a reversal. Last Sunday it was Adolfo Cambiaso returning to the top as he won the Tortugas over Facundo and Ellerstina. It was his first win over his only foe in the last 10 years so it may make for a wonderful run this fall in Argentina. These two 39 goal teams will meet in all three finals, I think. I also think one team will become 40-goals .
see ya
Steve – you used your story to promote yourself and the dead low goal polo in California. Do you really believe that if Nacho was a “regular” in your area that he would continue to draw big crowds? Don’t insult your readers intelligence.
Hi Ted sorry you think I am promoting myself as just what am I promoting? I have no doubt Nacho would improve Polo in Ca, just because of awareness of the sport through the media as he does bring that . he is also no doubt the face of Polo with his crowd work and people skills not even close to anyone else in the sport . I am not sure what you think but if he was there more people would be there and more possible people to take up game . It was LA Equestrian that made Polo in Ca. what it is today but now like me they are to old so we need a new link. and I think he would be an answer . Sorry you think I am promoting something other than Polo . You are right, Dead Low Goal Polo is dead and not a plus for the sport in any form as I am sure you know .
steve c