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A L E A G U E O F T H E I R O W N
Darlene Ricker gets the inside scoop on what to expect from the new 26-goal
World Polo League, from its co-founder Bob Jornayvaz
The Florida high-goal season is going to
look very different in 2019, with the USPA
lowering its 26-goal series to 22 goals and
two patrons launching their own 26-goal
league to fill the gap. Until now little was
known about how the new World Polo
League (WPL), created by Bob Jornayvaz
and Marc Ganzi, would operate.
They have finally rolled out the bottom
line: this is going to be 26-goal polo like
we’ve never seen it before. In a radical
departure from association polo, team
owners will be ‘in control of their destiny,’
says Jornayvaz.
WPL teams will vote on which rules they want
to play under, selecting from a combination
of USPA, HPA and AAP rules. No new rules
will be created. The teams and players will
also regain valuable trademark, film and
broadcast rights that they are required to
forfeit without compensation if they play
in USPA tournaments.
‘Why should we give up our rights to
either a venue or an organisation governed
by people who aren’t actively participating
in and/or paying for high-goal polo?’ asks
Jornayvaz. ‘We bring in the top players in the
world at our own expense and put on a great
show with no compensation. We have
created a league to empower team owners.’
Under a unique concept, the WPL will
offer an optional turnkey programme
designed to foster and attract sponsors
to high-goal polo by reducing the barriers to
entry. It has attracted several international
players who have never played 26-goal polo.
‘You don’t have to buy horses, find
housing for your grooms, lease barns, arrange
practice fields – all the things that make
high-goal polo intimidating outside your
home country. You write one cheque and just
show up with your boots,’ explains Jornayvaz.
