May 20, 2022
It’s a year of celebration for the Oak Brook Polo Club (Oak Brook, Illinois), who is proud to announce its 2022 summer schedule, a new field location, the launch of ticket sales on Wednesday, June 1, and the club’s 100th anniversary! The Cecil Smith Field will mark Oak Brook’s centennial season of polo in addition to being one of the nation’s oldest polo clubs in operation today and the fourth oldest sports property in Chicago. On select Sundays, from June 26 through September 25, fans can expect to experience adrenaline-fueled matches between some of the sport’s top players from local neighboring teams as well as from abroad.
Located at Butler National Golf Club’s practice golf range (700 Oak Brook Road), the Cecil Smith Field is widely known in the sport of polo as a historic and beautiful space located just 17 miles from downtown Chicago. It was referred to as a “masterpiece” by Oak Brook Polo founder and visionary Paul Butler in a 1962 Sports Illustrated article and embodies the Village of Oak Brook’s long and storied advocacy for sport and outdoor recreation, while being one of the nation’s best residential, commercial and entertainment destinations.
“Oak Brook Polo is undeniably the best secret of Chicago’s western suburbs and the Churchill Downs of polo,” explains Jim Drury, President of the Oak Brook Polo Club. “Oak Brook Polo gives people the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while watching a thrilling sport with friends and family. We are excited to continue to offer spectators a safe and fun activity. It is our mission to make our matches accessible, affordable and memorable for everyone who attends, and to reestablish Oak Brook as Chicago’s home for the sport of polo.”
Oak Brook Polo was privatized from the Village of Oak Brook in 2016 and is led and supported by Drury, whose passion and ongoing commitment to polo is what has kept the sport alive in Chicagoland for so long. With many iterations over the years, the first season dates back to 1922, when Butler first established the Oak Brook Polo Club. He expanded his polo operation to fourteen fields, plus built the necessary horse stables to serve visiting teams.
Eventually, Oak Brook became one of the “polo capitals” of the world, with Butler’s son, famed producer Michael Butler, and daughter, philanthropist Jorie Butler Kent, acting as the club's stewards throughout the years. The summer polo seasons were not only the stomping ground for celebrities and notables alike for decades, but also the destination for American Polo players and enthusiasts. Oak Brook was often referred to as “the town that polo built.”
Oak Brook’s team, led by Drury, includes Tommy Collingwood, Horacio Onetto and Herndon Radcliff*.
*Matches and tournament names are subject to change
New and returning sponsors include U.S. Polo Assn., Heineken, Beyond Shades, NeverAsh, Continental AutoSports, Northern Trust, One Oak Brook Commons, Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort, Tapville Social, Boodles Gin and 1800 Tequila. Matches will include team “meet and greets,” team parades with introductions, National Anthem singers and contests for both “best tailgate” and “best hat.” In addition, Oak Brook Polo Club will host a Centennial Celebration Gala on Friday, September 23, at Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort.
“Jim Drury (Pineoak Partners) has done a tremendous job preserving the legacy of polo in Oak Brook,” explains Gopal Lalmalani, Village of Oak Brook President. “Polo is such significant part of our history, and we are very excited to be celebrating 100 years of this illustrious sport in our Village. I would like to personally invite everyone to experience the grandeur and excitement of Polo in Oak Brook during this commemorative season!”
Oak Brook Polo Club ticket sales will begin on Wednesday, June 1 and will include a variety of ticket options starting at $15 per person and include lawn seating, tailgating, VIP Saddle Club (elevated) and reserved fieldside tables for four to six people. For groups of 20 or more, the club offers small and large private fieldside tented areas ideal for large families, corporate outings, birthday parties and other special events.
For more information, including sponsorships, please visit www.oakbrookpoloclub.com or call (847)-653-6242 for details and availability. Ticket prices for special events may differ from traditional pricing. Subscribe to the e-bulletin for season updates and announcements or follow at Facebook or Instagram.
All photos courtesy of ©Andrew Meier.
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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