The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships Returns to the West’s Most Western Town

Guests will witness the polo debut of a former National Hockey League star, while also enjoying the skills of Marc and Melissa Ganzi from the defending champion Aspen Valley Polo Club. US polo star Nic Roldan will also be in attendance, who was born in polo-centric Argentina, and raised in Wellington, Florida, where he continues to live and train at his home club of Grand Champions Polo Club. He is the youngest polo player to win the US Polo Open with the Escue Team at the age of 15. A successful businessman and spokesperson for various luxury goods companies, Roldan is making his fifth appearance at The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships, an event he enjoys for its great energy. 

“It’s a show for sure, with great ‘onda,’ as the Argentines—the dominating nation of polo—would describe it, meaning a great feeling, vibe, atmosphere,” Roldan, who plays often in Argentina, says. He also loves the playing season in England, where he first developed a love for gin. As a result, he co-founded the brand High Goal Luxury Gin. 

“The event does an excellent job at bringing our sport to a much wider and often fresh audience which is something I fully stand behind and is something I try to encourage as much as possible,” he says. “Opening up people’s eyes to the game, combining it with all the other activities that take place that day such as the cars, fashion, great music, food etc., provide for a unique, infectious buzz.”

Photo by Nick Mele

Located in the heart of Scottsdale at the base of the McDowell Mountains, WestWorld is the ideal spot for an event of this magnitude. In addition to the polo action, guests will enjoy signature events such as the Canine Couture Dog Fashion Show, presented by Lugari Pet Salon, the World’s Longest Catwalk Fashion Show produced by Phoenix Fashion Week, and halftime performances by the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. New vendors and entertainment include DJ-infused party tents such as Prosecco & Popcorn from Harkins Theaters, Grimaldi’s Pizza & Beer, an expanded Scottsdale Charro Lounge, Arizona’s top Saxophonist and the return of The Riot House DayClub, the ‘bird’s nest’ of American polo.

“The beauty of this event is that it sits at the intersection of so many senses, creating a unique atmosphere that can’t be replicated,” Leslie Owen, The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships General Manager says. 

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Retired NFL Star AC Caswell will once again host his Million Dollar Mingle charity event, and guests seeking the ultimate VIP experience can reserve seating and tables in the Molina Fine Jewelers Drivers and Players Lounge, the Barrett-Jackson Champagne and Jazz Lounge, and Prime—a luxury tent experience by Steak 44, Neiman Marcus, Barrett-Jackson and Bentley Scottsdale. 

Roldan says one of the greatest misconceptions about polo is that every game is like the scene from the movie Pretty Woman, where attendees are decked out in cocktail and formal attire. 

“Often, people over think it and worry about stuffiness or dress codes whilst in fact it’s incredibly inclusive as a spectator sport for all the family,” Roldan says. “There is a lot of polo all over the USA where you can rock up and tailgate with your family and have a wonderful time. Seeing eight horses and riders tearing up and down the field is the perfect mix of adrenaline and precision.” 

He says the second misconception is that all polo players live on yachts, roll out of bed on a Sunday morning, pull on their polo whites and hop on a horse. 

“The reality is we spend hours in the gym during the week getting ready, and at the barn caring for our horses,” he says. 

Finally, Roldan offers a bit of advice for those attending The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. 

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“Get up as high as possible to get the best overview of the pitch as possible,” Roldan says. “Don’t wear white jeans unless you’re playing, and ladies, don’t wear pointed heels as you’ll spend your whole time getting stuck in the turf.” 

General admission tickets are available now starting at $45 and include a variety of field-side experiences—corporate sky boxes and private polo tents are currently available for sponsorship, as are vendor opportunities. For tickets, tables and sponsorships visit www.ThePoloParty.com.