Another Year of Event Firsts and Exciting Match-Ups At The World’s Greatest Polo Party – 9th Annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships
Aspen Valley Polo Club Holds Onto Winning Record, AZ Polo Club Upsets Wales Among the Highlights of the Day
(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses & Horsepower, presented by Talking Stick Resort wrapped up its 9th year with an impressive 11,136 attendees, and another year of victorious teams, impressive defeats, event firsts, and an increase in ticket revenue.
The day kicked off with the U.S. Air Force team defeating the U.S. Marines 5 to 3 in the General George S. Patton, Jr. Tournament presented by Safeway Albertsons and Sanderson Lincoln.
That was quickly followed by the Molina’s Arizona Polo Club’s triumphant 12 to 6 upset over the Talking Stick ResortCenttrip Wales Polo Team. Camacho brothers, Felipe and Andres along with Arizona Polo Club President Diego Florez scored a record 12 goals for Arizona’s highest ranking polo team.
In the signature featured match of the day – Polo Superstar and Ralph Lauren Model Nacho Figueras carried his team, reigning champion Bentley Scottsdale’s Aspen ValleyPolo Club to hard fought 7 to 5 victory over Barrett-Jackson’s Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. Figueras scored 4 of the team’s goals followed by rising star, Grant Ganzi. This is the fifth consecutive year Aspen Valley has captured the Molina Cup.
The day concluded with the first ever charity match-up. Southwest Wildlife took on Arizona Equine Rescue for a $10,000 purse going to the winning charity. In a tight match-up, the teams ended in a 4 to 4 tie with $5,000 going to each of the charities, sponsored by EPR Polo.
Also a winner this year, Bernadette Parra who’s dog ‘Lucky’ took home Best in Show for the second year in a row in the event’s 6th Annual Canine Couture, presented by Lugari Pet Salon.
In the ceremonial ball drops Nacho Figueras joined in, as well as Arizona Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo, legendary Valley Concert Promoter Danny Zelisko, and nine-year-old cancer survivor, Peyton Gonzales.
Other entertainment included a special performance by two cast members of Americano!, the country’s most intriguing new musical debuting January 31 at The Phoenix Theatre Company, plus performances by Arizona’s #1 Oboe player from the Phoenix Symphony, Doc Jones, field-side tango dancers from Fred Astaire, Phoenix Rapper Ali Tomineek and his creative fusion with the Phoenix Opera, and a first ever acoustic guitar showcase in the Sanderson Lincoln Black Label Lounge.
The day also included half-time performances by the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and the World’s Longest Catwalk Fashion Show, presented by Phoenix Fashion Week. An impressive display of vehicles by Sanderson Lincoln led the fashion show as models traversed the field, some 200 yards in fashions provided and inspired by the United States Polo Assn. (USPA).
Other horsepower highlights of the day included a sneak preview of the 2020 Barrett-Jackson Car Collector Auction, plus more displays by Bentley Scottsdale, Courtesy Volvo, Earnhardt’s Genesis Collection, APEX Private Motorsports, and exotic cars by Scottsdale Ferrari and Maserati and others.
Guests enjoyed a variety of Polo Party fare at the 9th annual event including high-end cuisine provided by Steak 44 in the Prime VIP Tent, five-star catering by M Catering throughout the event, including bottomless French Fries and complimentary mimosas in the Barrett-Jackson Champagne & Jazz Lounge, plus several food trucks and pop up concepts like Fried & Fizzy. DJ infused party tents, Riot House and Wasted Grain also reported huge numbers for attendance and sales, as tents neared capacity and stayed open long after the matches concluded.
“There is no doubt, 2019 was our best year yet,” said Title Sponsor Beli Merdovic of Bentley Scottsdale. “Besides the fact that our team won, we saw incredible crowds, and a huge lineup of events and festivities. We will definitely be back and bigger than ever next year for the 10th Anniversary.”
The event’s organizer said concerts and night polo are possible additions to next year. 2020 will be the 10th Anniversary of the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships and sponsorships are already available.
For more information visit www.ThePoloParty.com or for sponsorship details for 2020 call (480) 423-1414.
For media inquiries call Jennifer Parks-Sturgeon (480) 495-3806 or email JParks-Sturgeon@RoseMoserAllynpr.com
