Open season at Greenwich Polo

The Greenwich Polo Club closes out its season with the return of the East Coast Open.

Greenwich Polo Club, in partnership with Audi of America and its 29 tristate dealers, will once again present the 2017 East Coast Open at the club in Greenwich’s bucolic backcountry Aug. 24-Sept. 10.

Considered to be one of the most prestigious polo competitions in the United States, the East Coast Open features top polo teams and polo players competing in the 20-goal tournament.

“We are proud to host the East Coast Open for the third year at Greenwich Polo Club,” says Peter M. Brant, founder of the club. “The tournament showcases the top level of polo, and it has grown in popularity thanks to the support of team owners, our sponsors and fans. The last two years the competition was so tough both matches ended in sudden death overtime. We expect polo players to bring their best again this year for the chance to have their names forever memorialized on the Perry Cup trophy.”

The Open will kick off at Shreve, Crump & Low’s showcase gallery at 125 Greenwich Ave. on Aug. 24, presented by Hublot, the official timekeeper of the club’s 36th season and the Open. Approximately 150 polo players, United States Polo Association officials and guests will attend the private cocktail event, which will feature an official draw to decide each polo team’s placement in the historic tournament. The public is invited to meet and greet polo players and to take photos with them as well as Audi Sport display vehicles and, polo horses in front of Shreve, Crump & Low, the club’s official trophy provider, from 6 to 7 p.m.

Public games will take place over three consecutive Sundays and are expected to draw more than 11,000 spectators. On Aug. 27, Sept. 3 and Sept. 10, Audi will extend access to its VIP hospitality and parking area to the first 25 Audi owners to enter the Greenwich Polo Club grounds.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Greenwich Polo Club and the East Coast Open as a sponsor of this year’s tournament,” says Nathalie Carpenter, Audi of America Eastern Region marketing manager. “This continued partnership not only further affirms Audi’s commitment and support of polo in the United States but provides an organic and exciting platform for our brand to engage with fans of the sport.”

Also on Aug. 27, LOOK Greenwich will be hosting a ticketed tent for fans who wish to have a full VIP polo experience, while Veuve Clicquot, the official Champagne of the 2017 season, hosts a photo contest for best picnic.

Meanwhile, Hublot will have a VIP event for the final on Sept. 10, with polo fans invited to view the luxury brand’s selection of both sporting and dress watches. 

“Hublot is excited to partner with Greenwich Polo Club on the East Coast Open, and we feel that the mix of sport and refinement speaks perfectly to our brand,” says Jean-François Sberro, managing director of Hublot of America.  “After supporting polo in Gstaad, Ascona, Beijing and, earlier this year, in New York with the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, we are happy to continue our long line of key sporting partnerships, including support of the top level of polo in the U.S. this summer with the East Coast Open tournament.”

Hublot will be providing a timepiece to the MVP of the East Coast Open. Maria Mendelsohn is the official real estate partner of Greenwich Polo Club and will be awarding Best Playing Pony at the end of each match. Pololine will be producing a special program each week featuring interviews with polo players, game stats and features on polo ponies and teams. Pololine, in coordination with Argentina, will also be awarding the best “Polo Argentino” horse of each of the three Sunday public matches of the East Coast Open.

The 2017 tournament partners also include Hospital for Special Surgery, Barbados Tourism, the USPA, Montepicaza, Stick & Ball and luxury handbag designer Jeffrey Levinson.

Each Sunday from 1 to 3p.m. during the East Coast Open, fans will also have the opportunity to tour The Brant Foundation Art Study Center, dedicated to promoting the education and appreciation of contemporary art and design, which is located adjacent to the field and is featuring a new exhibit, “Animal Farm,” curated by Sadie Laska.

Tickets range from $40 to $100 per car for lawn seating, $60 per car for grandstand seating, $300 for box seats (seats 4) and $600 for VIP private cabanas (seats 8-12). Gates open at 1 p.m and matches start at 3 p.m. Dogs on leashes are allowed. The field address is 1 Hurlingham Drive.

For more, click on to at greenwichpoloclub.com/eco/tickets/

In addition, the USPA will live-stream all tournament games on the USPA Polo Network at uspolo.org/video. (Check out USPOLO.ORG for tournament information, schedule and updates.) And for more on Greenwich Polo, pick up a copy of WAG’s August “Exploring Sport” issue or visit us at wagmag.com.

– Georgette Gouveia

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