NEWS

The USPA Fall Committee, Board of Governors and Annual Member Meeting was held from Wednesday, October 9, through Saturday, October 12, at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center in Denver, Colorado. The meetings took place both virtually via Zoom and in-person to maximize member participation.

The USPA Fall Committee, Board of Governors and Annual Member Meeting provides USPA members and staff with the opportunity to audit committees and become more involved with the governance and future direction of the Association. During the fall meetings, members can voice their opinions, seek advice from USPA leadership and pose questions relevant to the sport.

Meetings commenced Wednesday morning, followed by the Chairman's reception that evening. In addition to welcoming everyone to Colorado, guests had the opportunity to honor the recipients of the I/I Service Awards, including Tom Goodspeed, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Carol Jean “CJ” Schnier, honored with the Service Award, and Ryan Saul, the recipient of the Young Alumni Award. Following three days of productive meetings, the week culminated in the Board of Governors meeting on Saturday. The board heard reports from many of the divisions, LLCs and committees. Additionally, the board approved the 2025 operating budget, USPA By-Law changes, revisions to the rules and tournament conditions, and several other amendments to programs and initiatives.

Nicole Bankhead opened the Arena Committee with a recap of the 2024 Pacific Coast Arena League played at Orange County Polo Club (Lakeside, California) and surrounding clubs.

David Brooks, captain of the USA team, provided an overview of the recent Buddy Combs International Arena Challenge and International Military Polo Challenge, both of which showcased matchups between India and the USA. USA was victorious in the second annual Buddy Combs while India won the military arena test match.

Arena Committee Chair Robin Sanchez and facilitator Liz Brayboy shared an overview of the Arena Polo Strategic Review. The committee conducted over 65 interviews with various stakeholders to understand their perspectives on the organization's capacities, quality and effectiveness. AI was utilized to develop standardized summaries of each interview, which were then compiled into a working document for the strategic plan.

The strategic review utilizes insights from two surveys conducted by the USPA. The first survey targeted USPA clubs identified as arena clubs and achieved a 60% response rate. The second survey, designed to gauge individual members' engagement in polo, received 350 responses in its first week before the data was compiled for the meetings. Notably, the data revealed that 64% of respondents started the sport in the arena and 66% of USPA member clubs have arenas. The review will continue collecting data from the member survey as responses come in.

The meeting focused on identifying quick wins and strategies to increase membership without seeking additional funding from the board of governors. The subcommittee also discussed the need for better coordination across impacted committees by sharing committee members and reporting results. Additionally, the group explored leveraging existing resources, such as uspolo.org and “Learn to Play” videos to attract new members.

For next steps, the arena polo strategic review subcommittee outlined key agenda items: finalizing a list of overall strategies and tactics for arena polo development, prioritizing initial recommendations, creating a business plan with pro forma budget, reporting results to impacted groups prior to the spring meetings to improve cross-committee coordination and communication, and researching and compiling data on the comparative costs of arena vs. outdoor polo facilities.

In 2024, the committee organized mounted color guards for the U.S. Open Polo Championship, Military Appreciation Night and the Commander-in-Chief Cup. Looking ahead, the committee will explore developing polo clubs at military academies, participating in new international military events and continuing to generate ideas to further support members of the Armed Forces.

USPA Tournament Manager Kaila Dowd reported that a total of 26 military circuit events have been approved so far this year. She also reminded the committee that clubs can still apply to host the National Outdoor Commander-in-Chief Cup, a tournament requiring all players to have served in the U.S. Armed Forces or Reserve Components.

The Audit Committee held its regular fall meeting on Wednesday, September 27, to review ongoing committee matters. The committee operates under its charter, which outlines the roles of its members.

Tim Kelly, the current Audit Committee chairperson, was recently elected as the Pacific Coast Circuit Governor. Due to his new role, Kelly is required to step down from the Audit Committee once he officially assumes his position as a USPA Board Member. However, the USPA Board of Governors passed a motion to extend his term for an additional 45 days to ensure the completion of ongoing tasks within the committee.

Additionally, Bill Kirton was welcomed as the newest member of the Audit Committee.

The BASDC serves as an advisory committee and discussed several agenda items from its Management by Objectives (MBO) tracking document, including the procurement policy status, a template for the role of committee chairperson, arena polo strategic planning, staff development and career progression, an in-process Paid Time Off Policy, safety programs, cybersecurity and several other ongoing areas of focus.

The committee reported NPC Hospitality Operations is currently seeking a General Manager through Denehy Club Thinking Partners. The role will involve overseeing membership, events, catering and the development of a business plan.

The Constitution Committee convened to review and discuss proposed revisions to the USPA By-Laws. Several topics were identified for further discussion, which may require additional revisions to both the Constitution and By-Laws in the future.

On Saturday, October 12, the committee put forward two By-Law changes, both recommendations were approved by the Board of Governors. First, the indemnification language was clarified to apply to committee members. Second, the name of the Horse Registry Committee was revised, with the new name to be announced once the restructured committee is established and operational.

The Club and Membership Administration Committee (CMAC) provided an update on Canadian member insurance, a topic discussed at the previous spring committee meeting. Ed Velarde presented a potential member benefit that would offer comprehensive insurance programs for USPA members and clubs. Mr. Velarde emphasized the program's extensive coverage, which includes health, dental, vision, hearing, long-term care, short-term medical disability, cancer, critical illness, Medicare supplemental and international coverage. He also noted that the program is available to U.S. citizens, non-U.S. citizens residing in the United States, affiliate members and even short-term staff.

Additionally, Donald Little was welcomed as the new committee chairman, replacing Steve Armour, who stepped down as a result of his election as Southwestern Circuit Governor.

Medication Testing Program: 326 horses have been tested at 17 tournaments across 11 clubs and six circuits. The committee reviewed the Equine Medications Rules (EMR) testing budget and noted that additional funds had been requested and approved to continue testing through the end of the year. The committee discussed the current EMR Penalty Matrix, with a particular focus on increasing penalty amounts to offset legal fees. Additionally, a proposal was considered to restrict the use of a horse for a specified period following a positive anabolic steroid test.

Finally, it was announced that the USPA Tournament Committee has approved the creation of a new circuit tournament, the Polo Pony Celebration Cup, in response to a suggestion from the Equine Welfare Committee.

USPA Finance Committee Chairman Sam Ramirez Jr. announced the portfolio was doing well in its conservative position.

Representatives from Meketa Investment Group, Larry Witt and Shawn Bowen, provided an overview of year-to-date returns. They noted that inflation has significantly decreased, and the United States remains strong among world economies, although the equities market may be somewhat overvalued. Most asset classes have shown positive quarter-to-date performance, particularly in technology and utilities. Additionally, the Federal Reserve recently lowered the interest rate, and the job market remains strong.

The Equity Portfolio showed a 7.8% increase year-to-date, resulting in a 13% gain year over year. Long-term performance measures a 6% increase since inception. Since February 2024, the USPA has had two active managers in several stock types but not correlated.

Mr. Ramirez, who also serves as Treasurer of USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL) presented the USPAGL update on behalf of Michael Prince, USPAGL President and Chief Executive Officer. USPAGL reported another strong year, surpassing budget goals and outperforming industry peers across top sports and fashion brands. U.S. Polo Assn. has become the number one polo shirt brand in North America and the 23rd largest global licensor with royalty estimates raised to $24.5 million. Additionally, the relationship with ESPN remains strong.

The Finance Committee endorsed the USPA operating budget of $32,229,516 for approval by the Board of Governors at its meeting on Saturday, October 12. The operating budget includes the not-for-profit entities of the USPA, Inc. (Corporate, Communications and Services), USPA Umpires, LLC, USPA Polo Development, LLC, USPA Sunday Field, LLC and NPC Polo Operations, LLC.

The Rules Committee met, and the Board approved revisions to both the Outdoor and Arena Rules. The changes to the Arena Rules become effective immediately. A detailed summary of the Outdoor Rule changes can be found below.

The Safety Committee discussed a proposed full helmet study by Virginia Tech University. The study would be designed to analyze the biomechanics of polo-related injuries through video footage analysis. The study’s ultimate goal would be to use available data to develop improved polo helmets. Virginia Tech has provided an initial cost estimate of $520,000, with the expectation being that the study would take up to two years to complete. It was suggested that Virginia Tech be contacted to determine if supplying existing video footage would reduce the study’s overall cost. It was also noted that any decision to proceed with the study would have to be approved by the board of governors. Additionally, it was announced that initial discussions have begun with PoloSK to implement real-time injury reporting at events where professional umpires are present. The Safety Committee also considered the possibility of requiring EMTs and medics at all USPA events, as well as establishing a reimbursement program to help clubs cover the costs of hiring EMTs/medical professionals.

The Tournament Committee approved 2025 guidelines for the Prize Money Matching Program and the Legacy Polo Series. Additionally, two new USPA events were approved. The USPA Women’s Gold Cup will be recognized as a national event and was awarded to Port Mayaca Polo Club, in Okeechobee, Florida, to be played prior to the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship in 2025. The second event, the Polo Pony Celebration Cup, has been approved as a new circuit event for 2025.

Additionally, the Tournament Committee and Board approved the 2024 and 2025 National and Sanctioned Tournament applications.

The Women's Committee reported that more USPA women’s tournaments have been awarded to more member clubs than ever before and recommended that the Tournament Committee approve the USPA Women’s Gold Cup as a new national tournament. The 2025 Florida winter women’s tournament schedule was discussed, and the USPA Communications Division agreed to create and share a seasonal tournament calendar on social media to promote events once Tournament Manager Kaila Dowd provides the necessary information. The Women’s Tournament Incentive Program was also discussed and attendees were reminded to apply for tournament reimbursements before the end of the year.

Chairman of NPC Hospitality Operations Tim Gannon spoke about The Polo Club at NPC’s successful 2024 season and summer. The club is currently undergoing renovations to transform the kitchen and bathrooms in the Mallet Grille and has completed the final phase of tile replacement in the pool area. Gannon reported to the Board of Governors that, despite losing three weekends of full revenue due to inclement weather, revenue increased by $1,105,025 compared to the same period in 2023. Club membership has also increased by 50% since June 2022. The club also decreased expenses compared to year-to-date 2023 with a 60% reduction in operating losses from the same period. Heading into the 2025 polo season, NPC Hospitality Operations is undertaking a nationwide search for a General Manager.

Charles Smith, Chair of the NPC Polo Operations Advisory Committee, highlighted the organization’s achievements in its second operational year and detailed the ongoing projects that have taken place during the offseason. The 2025 schedule has been released; and a supplemental entry form for the U.S. Open Polo Championship is in development; and the annual letter concerning season tickets, boxes and tailgates has been distributed.

During the summer of 2024, several projects were successfully completed, while others are ongoing, including the renovation of the Heatley House, the addition of a new Pavilion entrance and the paving of 35th Street leading to the stadium entrance. Upgrades to the network infrastructure and the introduction of a new box office ticket booth are also in progress, alongside a redesign of the existing box office.

Polo Operations is steadfast in its commitment to reduce its operating subsidy. Over the past few years, significant progress has been made, resulting in a notable decrease in the subsidy amount. The organization is focused on controlling expenses; however, to completely eliminate the subsidy, it will be crucial to expand revenue streams through outside events and increased sponsorship sales.

The USPA National Polo Center (NPC) has made significant strides in expanding the levels of polo played at its facility. In the 2024 season, over 50% of games were below the 22-goal level, including mixed-level matches down to 8-goal polo, as well as women’s and youth polo. The fields at NPC have consistently garnered praise from professionals and sponsors alike, and ticket sales for NPC events were robust in 2024, culminating in a sold-out U.S. Open Polo Championship final.

Looking ahead, NPC Polo Operations remains focused on enhancing the organization’s image and brand value, with the goal of attracting more non-polo events and expanding sponsorship sales to qualified brands and businesses, all while enriching the experience for players and spectators.

USPA Umpires, LLC Executive Director Fergus Gould reported that the current optional tournament condition prohibiting “live play blocking” will become a USPA rule beginning January 1, 2025. This tournament condition was utilized during the summer with great success at various clubs in the U.S., including a 14 goal at Las Brisas Polo Club (Elgin, Illinois), a 16 goal at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (Carpinteria, California) and a 20 goal at Greenwich Polo Club (Greenwich, Connecticut). Players have offered positive feedback on the change’s impact, noting the rule has opened play and provided more opportunities for all players to hit the ball. It has also made the game faster and easier for spectators to watch.

Gould followed up with video examples of live play blocking and an overview of the instant replay system, which was implemented fieldside at high-goal tournaments at NPC and the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club this past year. Gould also announced the addition of a van to the program, which will house the IRO system and enhance its mobility, allowing for greater access to other clubs throughout the year.

Arena Umpire Director Bradley Biddle joined Gould to discuss changes to the Certified Umpire Program. A new test will be released for club-level certifications. Gould continued with impressive statistics from the USPA website’s e-learning platform, reporting that 556 courses were started with a 79% completion rate. More webinars and education will be added to the platform in the coming months.

Additional videos were presented, highlighting information collected by International Polo Academy about the umpires’ field time, as well as average speeds, distances and a heat map showing movement throughout the game.

Matt Baran, Executive Director of Communications, and Cristina Fernandez, Communications Manager, discussed division highlights since the USPA Spring Committee and Board of Governors Meetings, covering topics such as USPA Polo Network viewership, social media engagement, USPA tournament coverage and NPC marketing efforts.

POLO magazine Editor and Publisher, Gwen Rizzo, announced the completion of the magazine’s archival project. Members can now explore nearly 500 issues spanning 49 years of magazines, to uncover stories about family members, clubs, horses, tournaments and more.

Mr. Baran discussed the continued growth of the USPA Polo Network and the success of 2024’s livestreamed events, which garnered a total of 486,207 views, reflecting a 34% increase. Viewership peaked during the U.S. Open Polo Championship final with over 18,000 watching the game live or within 24 hours. The Communications Division also reported efforts to elevate production through improved and more engaging graphics, player and team interviews, tournament history features, club promotion, sideline correspondents, guest commentators and more statistics and player comparisons. A new initiative for the livestream will offer an exclusive and affordable USPA Member Club advertising option for just $500, allowing clubs to promote their services to the polo community. The production team will collaborate with each club to gather images, videos and call to action, creating a compelling 15-second advertisement spot.

Mr. Baran touched on the successful launch of the "USPA Presents" mini-series, which showcases captivating stories and tournaments that feature members and clubs. The series has garnered a remarkable 1,508,299 total views, averaging 137,118 views per episode. He believes the past couple of years creating longer-form video content have inspired larger production companies to film polo for major streaming platforms, such as the Netflix docuseries on the U.S. Open Polo Championship set to release in December.

Social media continues to be one of the division's most effective engagement tools, allowing the USPA to connect directly with members and fans. This year, total followers across all platforms—Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube—increased by 31%. Additionally, engagements rose 139%, impressions nearly doubled with a 200% increase and video views skyrocketed by 854% compared to the same period last year. Ms. Fernandez detailed the success of seven viral posts with a combined total of 22.8 million views.

Ms. Fernandez also reviewed USPA tournament coverage efforts, noting the division’s continued emphasis on elevating the prestige of national tournaments. Since January 1, 2024, the division’s weekly newsletter “This Week In Polo” has featured 107 USPA Member Clubs in its Trophy Section and covered over 244 USPA tournaments, with the Trophy Stage successfully managing to encompass all circuits.

The USPA National Polo Center's marketing focus was to position NPC as more than just a polo destination, while also maintaining a strong emphasis on the tournament season. The winter season’s strategy yielded a measurable $26,000 return on a $6,000 investment, with social media ads boosting revenue for Sunday Polo matches. Furthermore, other paid campaigns captured nearly 146,000 impressions for weddings and corporate events, showcasing NPC as a premier venue for special occasions. Key metrics showed a 21% increase in events compared to 2023, an 81% rise in unique visitors to the site and historic media coverage from the Netflix docuseries, which garnered attention from over 3,600 outlets and a potential reach of over 6 billion people.

On Friday, October 11, USPA Polo Development, LLC gave its fall 2024 presentation, highlighting key developments across several areas: the Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Program, National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS) and Player Development, E-Wheels and Polo Development Initiative (PDI).

In the Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) Program presentation, staff and leadership reported on the successful implementation of the Middle School point system. The new system has encouraged players to compete in multiple tournaments throughout the season, with points awarded across various categories, including participation, winning, all-star recognition, sportsmanship and horsemanship. High-point awards were established for each grade level from fifth through eighth grade, along with an Overall High-Point Award Winner category.

Looking ahead to 2025, the I/I Program announced the locations and dates for national tournaments. The National Interscholastic Championship is set for March 14-16 at Empire Polo Club (Coachella, California), followed by the Division I National Intercollegiate Championship from March 26-30 in Texas hosted by the DFW Polo Association. Additionally, the Division II National Intercollegiate Championship will take place from April 9-13 at Cornell University (Ithaca, New York). The I/I program also celebrated significant growth, welcoming several new members, including Ligonier Polo Club (Ligonier, Pennsylvania), Ople Polo (Fombell, Pennsylvania), Grand Central Stables & Polo Club LLC (Haskell, Oklahoma), University of New Hampshire (Durham, New Hampshire – Northeastern Region) and University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland – Southeastern Region).

NYTS Chairman Chrys Beal reviewed the recently concluded 2024 NYTS Championships, hosted at La Herradura Polo Club in Santa Ynez, California. Notably, 50% of participants were first-time players, with representation from 28 USPA clubs. NYTS coaches provided comprehensive training throughout the week, including video review and ongoing support. In player development, the Team USPA Committee announced mini-strategic planning to align with the new “Homegrown Player” changes to the American Rule (USPA Outdoor Rule 1.f). The Young Player Opportunity Grant received a record number of applications in 2024, with an increased focus on longer training opportunities and tournament play. The committee continues to evaluate the balance between domestic and foreign opportunities.

Executive Director of USPA Polo Development, LLC, Justin Powers, reported on recent progress with E-Wheels that has the potential to be an area for further development. Polo Development is exploring E-Wheels integration with NYTS training programs and investigating equipment partnerships and funding opportunities. It has identified the need for standardized rules, safety measures and best practices, with plans for an "E-Wheel Polo Challenge" concept.

The Polo Development Initiative announced several guideline changes for 2025, including the introduction of a regional cooperative polo entity concept, updated applicant "good standing" requirements and the addition of Member Club Delegate Endorsement. The initiative has maintained its focus on promoting the sport, Association and brand. PDI's long-term impact continues to grow, with PDI awards totaling $4,855,324 and a capital expenditures match force multiplier of $10,450,000 from 2019-2024. Projections indicate substantial growth, with anticipated PDI awards reaching $11,313,326 by 2030 and $17,476,109 by 2035, accompanied by capex match force multipliers of $24,173,254 and $37,269,167 respectively.

During the Saturday board meeting, Michael Prince, USPAGL President and CEO, shared global highlights and the overall performance of the U.S. Polo Assn. brand. Mr. Prince stated that the business was ahead of budget and that the USPA royalties would also be ahead of forecast. He discussed the global growth of the brand worldwide and the leadership position it has taken in sports apparel. He also noted the success with media not only in the United States but also in international markets showcasing the sport as well as the brand.

The Board elected a new Nominating Committee, consisting of the following members: Mike Carney, James DeAngelis, Paul Jornayvaz, Tim Kelly, Bill Kirton, Stephen Orthwein Jr. and Sheryl Sick.

Chairman Armstrong expressed gratitude to the outgoing Circuit Governors for their time, dedication and passion. The outgoing governors are Joe Muldoon, Clifton Yandell, Daniel Walker, Paul Jornayvaz, Jorge Vasquez, Leighton Jordan and Bill Kirton.

The Board officially welcomed the newly elected Circuit Governors:
• Megan West-Koll (Central)
• Lezlie Hiner (Eastern)
• Allen Hoe (Hawaiian Islands
• Austin Chandler (Midstates)
• David Strouss (Northeastern
• Steven Armour (Southwestern)
• Tim Kelly (Pacific Coast)

Tony Coppola was re-appointed as President of the USPA Services Division.

The Board also approved a new Executive Committee, composed of the Officers along with governors Sheryl Sick, Mike Carney, Tom Gose, Cindy Halle and Stephen Orthwein Jr.

Additionally, there were three new committee chair appointments:
• Donald Little as Chair of the Club and Membership Administration Committee
• David Brooks as Chair of the Polo Development Initiative Committee
• Whistle Uys as Chair of the Horse Registry Committee (new name to be announced)

All other committee chairs were reappointed to their current positions.

The next regularly scheduled Board Meeting will take place on Saturday, April 19, at the USPA National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida.