Empire Polo Club Announces Opening Weekend
Opening weekend at the Empire Polo Club kicks-off with “Polo Under The Lights & Happy Hour” on Friday, January 4th, 2013 at 6:00 PM. The first game of the season will pair USA vs. Canada in a fast-paced challenge match on the grass. These two teams would love to see a large group of Canadian and U.S. fans cheer them on, so please come on out and support your team! The Friday night “Polo Under The Lights” games are offered every week throughout the season. Admission is FREE.
USA
Doug Blumenthal
Remy Muller
Madelyn Cobb
Eric Hammon
CANADA
Dayelle Fargey
Derek Dalton
Dylan Foster
Ricardo Garcia
Opening Day of the 2013 Polo Season is scheduled for Sunday, January 6th. Sunday Polo features two competitive polo games at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. There will be a complimentary champagne divot stomp during halftime of the second game sponsored by Veuve Clicquot. Opening Day is also “Hat Day,” so wear your favorite chapeau. Sunday Polo games are scheduled every Sunday through March 31st, 2013.
General Admission & VIP Seating
General Admission is FREE at all Friday night and Sunday afternoon polo games. Tailgating is also free and space is available on a first come, first served basis. Bleacher seating is also available in the General Admission area.
VIP seating is only available during Sunday Polo. The VIP seating area is located in front of the Olympic-peaked tents on the west side of the main polo field. VIP seating includes: tables, cabanas and group seating. VIP seats & cabanas can be purchased by the day or the season pending availability. Reservations for these areas are highly recommended. Food and beverage service is available on site during the Sunday matches. For reservations call 760-393-7298.
2013 Season Highlights
Friday, January 4th at 6 PM: USA vs. Canada
Our first Friday night “Polo Under The Lights” event will feature a one day challenge match between U.S.A. and Canada. Admission is free. Tailgaters are welcome and stadium seating is available for spectators. The U.S.A. vs. Canada game will be held on the Rose Garden Field #3.
Sunday, January 6th Opening Day & Hat Day
Opening Day of the 2013 polo season at Empire Polo Club is scheduled for Sunday, January 6th, 2013. Sunday Polo features two polo games at 12 and 2 PM. A complimentary champagne divot stomp will be held at halftime during the 2 PM game. Opening Day is also Hat Day! Help us celebrate this annual tradition by wearing your favorite chapeau. (NOTE: On Sunday, January 6th, the Empire Polo entrance gates on Ave. 50 will be open, but spectators will need come in from Jefferson or Madison St. to access Ave. 50 due to construction on Monroe St.)
Saturday, January 12th: USA vs. England in the Townsend Challenge Cup
The USPA Townsend Cup is a high-goal arena challenge game traditionally played between teams from the U.S. and England. This is the second time this prestigious event will be hosted at Empire Polo Club. Professional polo players are flying in from England and various parts of the U.S. to compete in this one-day event. General admission is free. The game begins at 6 PM on Saturday, January 12th and will be held in the Empire Polo Stadium.
Saturday, February 23rd Rhythm, Wine & Brews Festival
The 2nd Annual Rhythm, Wine and Brews Fest will be held on Saturday, February 23rd, 2013 at the Empire Polo Club. The Festival will feature handcrafted wine and beer tasting provided by regional and national producers. Live blues and jazz music will be played throughout day. The Rhythm, Wines and Brews Festival will benefit the Casey Lee Ball Foundation. For more information on ticket prices and the event visit www.RWBFest.com.
Saturday, March 23rd Polo d’Elegance Charity Polo Match
Internationally recognized professional polo player and Ralph Lauren Polo model Nacho Figueras, has joined forces with Empire Polo Club and Autism Speaks to host the
1st Annual Polo d’Elegance Charity Polo Match and Gala on Saturday, March, 23rd, 2013. The theme of the event is Polo d’Elegance where the elegant sport of polo will be coupled with vintage automobiles and other luxury classics. For ticket prices and other event details please visit www.EmpirePolo.com.
Sunday, March 31st, Champions’ Cup Finals and Closing Day
Join us for the grand finale tournament & closing day of the polo season. There will be more than $70,000 in cash & prizes awarded to the teams who are in the final round of the Champions’ 8-10 Goals Finals and the Lions’ Cup 4-Goal Finals.
2013 Season Schedule
January 2013
Jan. 4th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights (USA vs. CANADA)
Jan. 6th Sunday Polo – Opening Day & Hat Day
Jan. 11th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Jan. 12th U.S.A. vs. England (Saturday at 6 PM in the arena)
Jan. 13th Sunday Polo
Jan. 18th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Jan. 20th Sunday Polo
Jan. 25th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Jan. 27th Sunday Polo
February 2013
Feb. 1st Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Feb. 3rd Sunday Polo
Feb. 8th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Feb. 10th Sunday Polo
Feb. 15th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Feb. 17th Sunday Polo
Feb. 22nd Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
Feb. 23rd Saturday – Rhythm, Wine and Brews Fest*
Feb. 24th Sunday Polo
March 2013
March 1st Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
March 3rd Sunday Polo
March 8th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
March 10th Sunday Polo
March 15th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
March 17th Sunday Polo
March 22nd Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
March 23rd Saturday – Polo d’Elegance Charity Match with Nacho Figueras **
March 24th Sunday Polo
March 29th Friday Night Polo Under The Lights
March 31st Sunday Polo/Champions’ Cup Finals and Closing Day
Sunday Polo Game Times: 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM
Friday “Polo Under the Lights” game time is 6:00 PM
General admission is FREE. Call for VIP rates for Sunday Polo.
*The Rhythm, Wine And Brews Fest is not a polo-related event.
For more information and ticket prices, please visit www.RWBfest.com
** The Polo d’Elegance Charity Match is a special event. For more information and ticket prices please visit www.PolodElegance.com.
Directions To Empire Polo Club
Sunday Polo Field
From I-10 take the Monroe St. exit and head south on Monroe St. Turn right on Avenue 50. The entrance for Sunday Polo games will be the Empire Polo Club middle gate on Avenue 50. Follow the parking signs. (NOTE: On Sunday, January 6th, the Empire Polo entrance gates on Ave. 50 will be open, but spectators will need come in from Jefferson or Madison St. to access Ave. 50 due to construction on Monroe St.)
Friday Night Polo
From I-10 take the Monroe St. exit and head south on Monroe St. Turn right at Ave. 51 located at the entrance to the Tack Room Tavern Restaurant parking lot. “Polo Under The Lights” on Friday nights will be held on our Rose Garden Field #3 or in the Empire Polo Stadium located on Monroe St. at Ave. 51.
Empire Polo Club
81-800 Ave. 51
Indio, CA 92201
Tel. 760-393-7298
www.EmpirePolo.com
www.Facebook.com/EmpirePolo
What to wear? This is one of the most asked questions by spectators. We suggest “hats and flats” as heels sink in the grass and the sun is always shining here in the desert. Polo is a casual affair at Empire Polo Club, so please wear whatever you feel comfortable in. You will see spectators wearing everything from shorts, jeans and flip-flops to sun-dresses, khakis and button down shirts.
Why Watch Polo?
It is a great way to spend your Sunday afternoon. Imagine sitting field-side, overlooking a series of immaculate polo fields surrounded by the majestic mountains in the distance while watching one of the fastest team sports on earth. You can take a date, your spouse, your family or a group of friends and enjoy a day outdoors while watching the polo ponies thunder across the field.
Polo is never boring when you have eight players traveling at speeds up to 30 miles-per-hour while riding-off other players, hooking their opponent’s mallets and hitting the ball at full speed. It is a great way to spend your day and general admission is FREE. You can’t beat that!