Jun 12, 2017 8:55 PM
Pre-event activities include Argentine Asado, craft beer festival, live music, free kids’ activities and more.
Mark Bellissimo and the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, North Carolina, will present the USPA sanctioned Gladiator Polo™ arena event on Saturday, June 24 at 8:00pm ET livestreamed on the USPA Polo Network.
Witness this radical, new sport where arena polo meets ice hockey on horseback. The evening will begin at 6:00pm ET with TIEC’s signature “Saturday Night Lights” entertainment including free carousel and pony rides, face painting, live music, Gladiator-inspired games and more. Adults can pre-party at the Tryon Resort craft beer festival, or fans of all ages can feast on an authentic Argentine Asado buffet from 6:00-10:00pm ET. Tryon Resort’s onsite shops, restaurants and bars will also be open. Admission and parking to Tryon Resort are free.
Click here to get a preview of Gladiator Polo™.
Contrary to traditional equestrian competitions where audience participation is encouraged only before and after a rider competes, Gladiator Polo™ is fueled by a rowdy crowd. Spectators are encouraged to cheer on their favorite team throughout the entire match.
In Gladiator Polo™ two teams of three players are pitted against each other in a small, enclosed arena, giving spectators an up close and personal look at the action. In this Roman-themed event, horse and rider teams wear distinctive colors – from the players’ helmets all the way down to the horses’ leg wraps - making it easy for spectators to follow the game and cheer on their favorite side.
The match is played on a regulation 300-feet by 150-feet field, enclosed by walls of four or more feet in height. The game consists of six chukkers, or six periods five minutes each. Riders change horses at the end of each chukker. Gladiator Polo™ does not require the large number of horses to play that outdoor/grass polo demands. Many players use two horses, alternating horses each chukker.
Gladiator Polo™ founder Mark Bellissimo is managing partner of Tryon Equestrian Partners that owns Tryon International Equestrian Center, and managing partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners that owns Palm Beach International Equestrian Center where Gladiator Polo™ was initially launched in January 2017. His motivation for creating Gladiator Polo™ was to broaden the reach of equestrian sport to fans of action-packed sports like hockey or football.
“We wanted to create a concept that will re-energize polo in this country and ultimately bring new participants, spectators, and sponsors into the sport,” said Bellissimo. “We are excited to launch this exhilarating sports initiative, highlighting the tenacity and speed of polo in an engaging and spectator-fueled atmosphere and look forward to growing the sport over the next year.”
Argentine Asado Buffet & Craft Beer Festival
Kickoff the evening with an authentic Argentinian Asado buffet on the Legends Club Porch starting at 6 p.m. As the international mecca of Polo, TIEC is celebrating the sport’s Argentine culture with this authentic fire-grilled, Asado experience. The all-you-can-eat buffet is $29.95 for adults and $12.95 for children 12-years-old and younger. Children 3-years-old and younger are free. Or, head upstairs to the Sky Deck above Legends Club for a craft beer festival. Enjoy unlimited four-ounce pours and all-you-can-eat tapas as you overlook the Gladiator Polo™ match in the George H. Morris arena. Tickets to the beer festival are $49.95 per person ages 21-years-old and older. An after party will be held outside of Legends Grille following the competition.
Purchase Tickets
The event is free to watch and tickets are available now for the Argentine Asado and Beer Festival. Click here to purchase tickets. For those who cannot attend in person, the game will be streamed live on the USPA Polo Network. Full details coming soon.
More Info
For more info on Tryon International Equestrian Center and Tryon Resort, visit www.tryon.com. For more information on Gladiator Polo™, visit www.gladiatorpolo.com. Admission and parking for Gladiator Polo™ are free.
Like Tryon International Equestrian Center on Facebook to get the latest updates and info.
Effective Date: Saturday, May 16, 2020
The suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events will be lifted for USPA Member Clubs in locales where hosting polo matches and tournaments is permitted under applicable state and local laws, executive orders and similar decrees. The USPA Member Clubs in these locales are encouraged to follow all such requirements of their state and local authorities with respect to polo operations. In addition, we also encourage all USPA Member Clubs to take the precautions recommended by the CDC. We are preparing a detailed list of best practices for USPA Member Clubs as they return to hosting USPA Tournaments and Events and plan to circulate these guidelines within the next week. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will notify you if we determine a different course of action is necessary.
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