MLK’s Alma Mater Joins Impressive Lineup Including an All Women’s Team, a Charity Match-Up and More; Seating is Limited and Some Tickets Already Sold Out!
This year’s event is proud to feature Morehouse College, a groundbreaking, legacy shaking establishment that now has the only polo team among Historically Black Colleges and Universities. As the largest men’s liberal arts college in the United States, Morehouse is one of two historically black colleges in the country and is the alma mater of many African-American civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr.
Aside from the co-founder and team captain; Caleb Cherry, most of the club members did not have an equestrian background and are learning to play polo alongside learning how to ride. The team’s financial backer, Miguel Wilson, from Ride to the Olympics Foundation has said he’s in awe of the team’s work ethic and willingness to learn and to see the amount they’ve achieved in such a short time period.
The Morehouse Polo Club is setting a new standard for minority youth that have interests in careers or sports other than the more typical ones. Ride to the Olympics hopes to create more polo teams across HBCU campuses.
“The Morehouse College Polo Club is very excited about the opportunity to play in Scottsdale. We have been training to get ready for the event, and we know that it will be a great experience for everyone. As the captain, I know that, regardless of the outcome, everyone is in for an amazing game,” said Team Captain Caleb Cherry.
This will be the team’s first-time playing Scottsdale. The team will be led by Captain and Co-Founder Caleb Cherry and includes players Justin Wynn, Rian Toussaint and Jayson Palmer. Morehouse College will take on the Women’s All-Stars in a “Battle of the Sexes” match during the final match of the day starting at 3:30pm on November 7th.
“As the coach for the Morehouse Polo Club, I couldn’t be more proud of these young men as they represent Morehouse and the city of Atlanta in this prestigious polo event,” said Jolie Liston, Polo Director for Morehouse College.
Morehouse College follows Work to Ride, the first all African-American High School Polo Team to win a high school championship, which played Scottsdale twice in previous years.
As part of the city-approved changes for 2020, The Stella Artois Polo Classic will feature an extensive social distancing plan that also incorporates a social distancing enforcement team, mandatory masks, sanitation stations, temperature checks and an all open-air approach with tables, lattice fencing, and umbrellas instead of tents to make guests as comfortable as possible in an environment as fun as possible.
The event has also been certified by HealthyVerify, a collaboration including Arizona State University and Barrow Neurological Institute to ensure significant safety precautions and measures are being carefully planned and implemented.
All of the popular tents on site will now be open-air with umbrellas, while tailgating and lawn seating has been expanded. To create even more additional spacing and social distancing, an elevated South Road seating option will also be available for guests for the first time. Reserved seating areas will also be modeled after guidelines for restaurants with noticeable distances between tables.
Tickets are on sale now at www.thepoloparty.com. There will be limited capacity in response to Covid-19.
Other elements returning in 2020 include several fan favorites such as car displays, a Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction preview, The Lugari Canine Couture Dog Fashion Show, the World’s Longest Catwalk Fashion Show presented by Phoenix Fashion Week, and a post event concert with local rock legend Roger Clyne. Clyne’s performance is being produced by R Entertainment and will take place immediately adjacent to the field. R Entertainment has been producing drive-in concerts for two months. The concert is separately ticketed.
2020 is also bringing new sponsors including Celebrity Cruises, which is presenting the charity match and will played on the Celebrity Cruises / Hotels at Sea Polo Field, Mark Taylor Residential, Bud Light Seltzer, and McLaren Scottsdale among others. Another new sponsor is the “Million Dollar Mingle” which is led by former NFL Player AC Caswell and will bring together celebrities, professional athletes, corporate executives, and socialites to support local charities.
For sponsorship or private sales opportunities please contact Leslie Owen at LOwen@RoseMoserAllynPR.com or at (480) 577-4156.
Visit www.thepoloparty.com for information, tickets, and special announcements.
For media inquiries please contact Jennifer Parks-Sturgeon at (480) 495-3806 or by email JParks-Sturgeon@RoseMoserAllynPR.com.
