I just returned from England where I found a polo community that was growing, attracting large crowd, getting TV coverage and attracting a host of corporate sponsors. Take a look at their schools program-SUPA, check out the history of Cartier’s involvement in the game. Look at how their association gets involved with international matches-maybe the USPA could learn something from them.
England isn’t the only European country making a go of the game. France, Italy, Spain, take your pick. They are all growing the game. The US, not so much. It’s time to either have the USPA officers give us some answers and some direction.
I ask any and all USPA officers to write to this blog and address the thousands of people who read this every week.
3 Comments
th000000605am08, 42008vUTC06bUTCThu, 05 Jun 2008 04:25:35 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p06
Backhander – I too was impressed with the TV coverage on Sky4 Sports while visiting England last summer. The polo coverage on ESPN in Argentina is outstanding as well.
Thank you for holding the USPAs feet to the fire on the important issues you have raised on this site. However, I’m afraid with the mess they have all gotten themselves into they will never come forward being the kind of cowards they are.
I know many players visit your site and would like to receive some honest answers from these chaps. They have really made of mess of things as England and Argentina continue to out shine them at every turn including returning corporate sponsors year after year.
Keep up the good work and thank you for pointing out all of their blunders.
th000000605pm08, 42008vUTC06bUTCThu, 05 Jun 2008 19:35:57 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p06
The Sky coverage is even more extensive in England this summer, even covering the beach Polo!! It is key to getting the youngsters playing as is getting good crowds, as at the Gold Cup and Cartier International. At the later there is also a parade of young players before the main game from the Pony Club and SUPA, normally the winners of the previous seasons Championships.
The other key is to give youngsters their own representative level, this summer a Young England (under 18) side will be playing test matches at Guards and Cirencester against Young France and Young India. The High Commissioners of the visiting countries will be at the matches, presenting prizes and having tea with the teams in the Royal Box at Guards after the match – how special will that make the young players feel, and their parents and friends? With that sort of event sponsors are then willing to offer their support.
The polo season is underway at last, if it will only stop raining!
th000000628pm08, 62008vUTC06bUTCSat, 28 Jun 2008 21:59:39 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p06
I believe we now know who is(or will be) the #2 polo playing country in the world. A friend of mine just got back from the UK and based on what they saw, heard and what we read(pololine), I thinks its safe to say they are well on their way to establishing themselves as just that. Congratulations to those who have seen to it that they elevate their position in the way they have.