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WELCOME TO THE EMPIRE POLO CLUB

December 21, 2017 by Empire Polo

The Empire Polo Club kicks off their 2018 season in style.

Empire Polo Club (Empire) situated in the Coachella Valley in Indio, California, is the self-proclaimed “Disneyland” of polo in the United States. Boasting one of the most exquisite and elaborate grounds, the club aims to impress players and spectators alike with a polo experience like no other. Offering a competitive polo season (mid-December through March) with public Sunday matches and a seasonal polo school, the club operates year-round hosting numerous non-polo events, such as music festivals—including but not limited to the famous Coachella music festival.

Established in 1987, the club has steadily grown over nearly three decades to include 12 grass polo fields, an indoor polo arena with stadium, two exercise tracks, on-site stabling for 650+ horses and the only fully-lit grass polo field in the United States for night polo. Equine amenities aside, the club houses not one, but two restaurants—The Tack Room Tavern Restaurant & Bar and Polo Pizza Co.—as well as “The Date Shed” a former date packing facility turned nightclub and live music venue.

Nacho Figueras in action at the Empire Polo Club.

“I think the players are always excited to come back every season to see what we have done over the summer. Most clubs when they are not playing polo are basically locked down and there is nothing going on. Here, we are constantly making improvements, so when the players come back each year there is always something new for them to see. This year it’s our pizza kitchen, the players will have another place to eat at the club which is really fun, an outdoor bar with TV screens.” said Kevin Ittig, Empire Polo Club Operations Manager.

All of this combined with consistently picture-perfect weather are the factors that have made Empire Polo Club such a success. “We have three games a week, one practice and two tournament games. I think we had one rain day last year and one rain day the year before—and we played on that rain day! We sanded beforehand, stomped divots, sanded after and it was a great day!” said Polo Manager Vicky Owens.

The 2018 Polo Season at Empire Polo Club officially begins on Decembver 31st with the first Sunday Polo game of the season. Sunday Polo regularly attracts 1,500-2,000 spectators on a regular weekend and up to 3,000 for a final. A wide variety of spectating options are available including VIP cabanas and individual seating, tailgating and general admission bleachers – each with an equally fantastic view of the field.

Empire prides themselves on their ability to create polo fans. “That’s where the next polo players are going to come from, the sidelines somewhere. You have to see the experience and really live the experience before you ever get on a horse. Polo can be a bit complicated if it’s not explained well, and when people don’t follow it they don’t come back–they just don’t get it.” said Ittig. A former professional player, Ittig serves as the resident announcer in addition to his duties as Operations Manager.

Post-game trophy presentations are always a part of the Sunday matches.

“Kevin gets everybody so involved. He explains what is going on during the game and he’ll do a Polo 101 at halftime. It’s a whole experience here, rather than just a social gathering,” added Tony Schieffer, Director of Sales. “Our spectators are loyal and they come back year after year and they bring friends, or they bring relatives when they come to town. So, it is growing,” continued Ittig.

Not just a prime location for polo spectating, polo players travel to Empire from around the country including Texas, Colorado, Washington and Canada—in fact most of their members are from out of state. Empire offers a 1-Goal League, 4-Goal, 6- to 8-Goal, a women’s tournament, arena tournaments and monthly “Friday Polo Under the Lights” event. What sets them apart are their prize money tournaments, the Lions Cup 4-Goal and Champions Cup 8-Goal. Teams pay an entry fee which the club matches. Unlike other money games, the only deciding factor is the final score. The victors garner seventy-five percent of the total pot while the runner-up collects the remaining twenty-five percent. A unique feature considering the majority of prize money tournaments are geared towards a mid- to high-goal level of polo.

Another feature unique to the club is their golf cart polo. “We invented it,” said Ittig, regarding golf cart polo. “Golf cart polo is followed by an exhibition match afterwards, it’s really unique for an event, something different!” A professional player drives the cart, then invite guests to sit in the passenger seat and control the mallet. Safety is a priority, with seat belts, helmets, bumpers and a plate to make sure the guests cannot slide their foot over to the gas or break. A great way for guests to connect with the players, and even get a feel of holding a mallet, golf cart polo has become wildly popular at Empire Polo Club.

The popular divot stomp that allows spectators to stretch and socialize at halftime between chukkers.

Club staff assert that playing in the desert is comparably less expensive to other California locations and more importantly their rival winter destination—Florida. Hay is grown locally, decreasing costs significantly as buying hay on the East Coast (where it is shipped in regularly) can be costly and an expensive expenditure often overlooked by the un-seasoned player.

“Most polo clubs when I was growing up were pretty rustic, there was a field and if you were lucky you got a bathroom,” explained Ittig. What Empire Polo Club founder Alexander Haagen III and Ittig had in mind was something more sophisticated and inclusive. “Polo isn’t just an individual event, it includes the entire family. Nowadays it doesn’t matter if you are a woman or a man, you want to bring your kids to the polo club. We tried to build a polo club that was more family friendly and gives families more options. We never knew it was going to turn out like this, but it worked out great!”

Plans to expand continue with a recently acquired 93-acre pasture facility, which will be available in June increasing capacity to an astounding 800 or 900 horses. This year they will also name the main tournament field in honor of General George S. Patton. A dedication ceremony unveiling the field side Patton bust is slated to take place at the USPA Patton Cup 4-Goal Final at the end of January. A four-goal polo player, General Patton would bring his troops to the desert for training as the climate mirrored that of Africa. Only a thirty-minute drive from the General George S. Patton Memorial Museum, this tribute is yet another way to improve the polo experience for both spectators and players integrating the rich history of the sport into modern day play.

“We always have the vision of getting bigger and better instead of just staying where we are. I think Mr. Haagen’s thoughts are always, how can I improve this, how can I make this better,” said Ittig. A commendable aspiration, the Empire Polo Club’s burgeoning twelve-month event schedule is one to be admired and emulated at clubs across the country.                                         (Editorial courtesy of the United States Polo Association)

Filed Under: Club News Tagged With: Alex Haagen III, Alex Webbe, empire polo club, media, opening day, opening weekend, polo, polo games, polo schedule, polo tournament, social, tournaments, Vicky Owens

Opening Weekend at Empire Polo Club Jan. 7th – 9th, 2011

December 23, 2010 by EPC Staff Leave a Comment

Opening Weekend Festivities
Jan. 7th – 9th, 2011


Friday, Jan. 7th, 2011 : Polo Under The Lights & Happy Hour at 6:00 PM

Sunday, Jan. 9th, 2011: Opening Day & Hat Day at Empire Polo Club. Games at 12:00 and 2:00 PM.

Indio, CA: Opening weekend kicks-off with Polo Under The Lights & Happy Hour on Friday, January 7th, 2011 at 6:00 PM.  Two teams will compete under the lights in a competitive polo match on the main field at Empire Polo Club.  General admission is free and everyone is welcome.  Happy Hour beverage service will be available on site during Polo Under The Lights games.

Opening Day of the 2011 polo season at Empire Polo Club is scheduled for Sunday, January 9th, 2011. After taking many years off from operating an active polo club, Empire Polo Club is now back in the polo saddle.  They are celebrating the  “Grand Re-Opening” of their polo club this winter and they would like the general public to help them make this inaugural season one to remember.

Sunday, January 9th 2011 is the “Official Opening Day” at Empire Polo Club.  Put on your best Sunday hat and join us for a celebration of traditional polo, desert-style.  While the dress code at polo is very casual, Empire Polo Club will host a hat contest on Opening Day.  We will be judging the hats in two divisions: the most traditional and the most creative.  Don’t be shy, put on the most outrageous hat you have and join in the fun.  A halftime, champagne divot stomp is scheduled during the 2:00 pm game and is sponsored by Korbel California Champagne.

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.  For more information about “How To Dress For Polo” visit our website at www.empirepolo.com.

The Polo Games

What: Polo Games Open To The Public

Cost: General Admission is FREE

When:

  • Polo Every Sunday Jan. 9th – March 27th, 2011.
  • Sunday Game Times: 12:00 Noon and 2:00 PM
  • Friday Polo Under The Lights Games Jan. 7th, Feb. 4th & March 4th,2011

(Friday night game times 6:00 PM, weather permitting. Check game schedule on www.empirepolo.com to confirm game times)

Where: Empire Polo Club, 81-800 Ave. 51, Indio, CA 92201

During Sunday Polo the games are scheduled at 12:00 and 2:00 PM and are open to the public. General admission is free and includes seating in the field-side bleachers. Spectators are also welcome to bring their own chairs or a blanket for tailgating along the east side of the main field. Food and beverage service is available on site and restroom facilities.

Private, field-side boxes are available for an additional fee.  Boxes can be purchased for the season or by the day.  Designated VIP areas are available for playing and social members.  Seasonal Social memberships are available to the public for an additional fee.

Reservations are required for Box Seating, VIP areas and for private groups. Contact Tony Schieffer 760-393-7298 or e-mail tonyschieffer@empirepolo.com

Directions To Empire Polo Club

From I-10 take the Monroe St. exit and head south on Monroe St.  Turn right on Avenue 50.  The entrance for this particular weekend will be the Empire Polo Club middle gate on Avenue 50.

Follow the parking signs.

Empire Polo Club,
81-800 Ave. 51,
Indio, CA 92201
Tel. 760-393-7298

Why Watch Polo?

What better 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 along the fields below.  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!

About Empire Polo Club

Established in 1987, Empire Polo Club is one of the largest polo clubs on the west coast with 7 polo fields and an indoor arena and a polo school. Polo is played Wednesday through Sunday, November through March with featured matches beginning on Sunday, January 9th at 12:00 and 2:00.

About The Polo Players

Empire Polo Club is a world-class, international polo club. Players from Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Maylaysia, The Philippines, South Africa, France, Germany, England and other countries flock to the desert to play polo at Empire Polo Club. Player’s ages range from the young up-and-comers, who are in their early teens to seniors in their 60s.

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Filed Under: Club News, Media Tagged With: empire polo club, media, opening day, opening weekend

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