Nacho Figueras & Veuve Clicquot Re-Introduce Professional Polo to the City of Angels with a Star-Studded Social Event
NEW YORK,NY(September 30, 2010) – Veuve Clicquot Champagne is delighted to re-introduce professional polo to Los Angeles when it hosts its inaugural Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Los Angeles on Sunday, October 10, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Will Rogers State Historic Park in the Pacific Palisades. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in support of California State Parks, The Will Rogers Ranch Foundation in cooperation with the Will Rogers Polo Club Inc.
Bringing the world of polo to Angelenos for this one-day event, the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Los Angeles will offer spectators the chance to watch Nacho Figueras, captain of the Black Watch team and face of Ralph Lauren’s Polo Fragrances, go head-to-head against some of the world’s most famous polo players, including opposing team captain Rico Mansur. “I truly look forward to bringing this unique event to the West Coast,” saysFigueras. “The most rewarding aspect of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic is making polo, as well as this fantastic social event, free and accessible to the people of Los Angeles for the first time.”
“We are delighted to bring the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic to the West Coast,” states Vanessa Kay, vice president Veuve Clicquot USA. “After three successful years hosting the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in New York City, the natural next step was to bring this event to Los Angeles, one of the country’s most stylish and exciting cities. With great support and enthusiasm from Will Rogers State Historic Park and Nacho Figueras, we are excited to re-introduce professional polo to Los Angeles, and confident this will become an annual event Angelenos look forward to each year.”
Set among the beautiful and serene landscape of Will Rogers State Historic Park, the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Los Angeles promises to attract a fashionable crowd and feature the glamour and excitement of polo – ‘the sport of kings.’ In reverence to the gaiety of the sport’s 1920’s and 1930’s heyday, guests are encouraged to don fashions inspired by that era, as well as traditional polo looks including daring hats for women and summer suits for men.
To ensure the event’s polo fashion is top-notch, Veuve Clicquot has teamed up with Cameron Silver, famed owner of Los Angeles and London-based vintage boutiques, decadestwo and DECADES, respectively. Named one of the “25 Most Influential Names and Faces in Fashion” by TIME Magazine, and a recognized style authority among the fashion industry, Cameron Silver will bring his distinct eye for style to the event through on-site styling advice and sessions with guests. In addition, Silver will consult on the overall design of the event, which will also reflect the 20’s and 30’s era when the sport was last popular in Los Angeles.
In addition to the exclusive VIP Marquee, one side of the field will be free and open to the public. Angelenos will be able to watch the match from bleachers overlooking the legendary polo grounds – the last of Los Angeles’ original 22 polo fields – where Hollywood celebrity and polo connoisseur Will Rogers used to play the sport himself along with fellow polo enthusiasts including Clark Gable, Walt Disney, and Spencer Tracy. This historic site is located just outside Rogers’ former private home, which still stands today. Spectators can also expect plenty of Veuve Clicquot champagne bars and premium bites from some of Los Angeles’ famous food trucks including Fishlips (Sushi), Frysmith (Hand-Cut French Fries), Let’s Be Frank! (100% Grass-Fed Beef Hot Dogs), Coolhaus (Ice Cream Truck). To further support the legacy of Will Rogers through interpretive activities and fundraising to assist in the ongoing restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of Will Rogers State Historic Park, one dollar from each champagne flute sold will be donated to the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation.
“We are thrilled that the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Los Angeles will reintroduce the professional sport of polo to Los Angeles, while also supporting California State Parks, the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation and the Will Rogers Polo Club Inc.,” says Lynette Brody, Park Superintendent of Will Rogers State Historic Park. “Not only are we pleased that the event will financially benefit the park, but we’re also excited to expose our beautiful grounds to a wider array of Angelenos.”
Past VIP guests of New York’s Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic have included Prince Harry, Madonna, Kate Hudson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Susan Sarandon, Mary J. Blige, Julianna Margulies, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Marc Jacobs, Andre Balazs, Alexis Biedel, Gayle King and many others. In 2010, nearly 13,000 members of the public attended the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Governors Island in New York City to experience the world-class polo match and glamour of this unique event.
The participating polo teams are …
Black Watch
Ben Soleimani
Nacho Figueras
Carlos Gracida
Joel Baker
Veuve Clicquot
Tj Barrack
Matt Ladin
Rico Mansur
Artie Cameron
For additional event information, b-roll and/or still images of previous Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic events, background on the Will Rogers State HistoricPark and/or to arrange an interview with participating Veuve Clicquot representatives – Nacho Figueras and Cameron Silver – please contact clicquot@lsagency.com.
Always sip responsibly.
