Sunday Polo Every Sunday From January 4th – March 29th, 2015
By Lynn Bremner
Empire Polo Club is pleased to announce the dates of their 2015 Polo Season. “Opening Day & Hat Day” at Empire Polo Club is scheduled for Sunday, January 11th. Opening Day will feature two competitive polo games, at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.
This season we are excited to announce the addition of a football lounge to our VIP Sunday Polo venue. Three big flat screens will be airing Sunday football games and other popular sports. The lounge is located next to the main bar area and will give VIP spectators the opportunity to enjoy both football and polo!
Other changes include additional covered VIP seating on the Trophy Terrace that overlooks the main polo field. A second VIP bar located near the cabanas has been added along with an outdoor barbeque and updated menu.
Sunday Polo Open to the Public
Sunday Polo games are scheduled every Sunday from Jan. 4th through March 29th, 2015. Empire will be open and will offer Sunday Polo on January 4th, but the official Opening Day is January 11th. The polo club will be closed on Sunday, March 1st, 2015.
General Admission is FREE with a $10 parking fee for all Sunday afternoon polo games. Tailgaters are welcome; space along the sidelines is available on a first come, first served basis. Bleacher seating is also available in the General Admission area. Spectators are welcome to bring their own food and beverages into the General Admission area. Food and beverage service is also available.
VIP Admission is $25 per person and includes parking, VIP seating and a complimentary Champagne Divot Stomp sponsored by Chandon. VIP seating is only available during Sunday Polo. The VIP seating area is located in front of the Olympic-peaked tents on the west side of the main polo field and offers spectators a seat at a table or on one of the couches along the sidelines.
Reservations for VIP seating are highly recommended. Food and beverage service is available onsite during the Sunday matches. No outside food or beverages are allowed into the VIP area. For VIP reservations or group rates please call 760-393-7298 or email tonyschieffer@empirepolo.com.
The entrance for Sunday games is on Ave. 50 between Monroe St. and Madison St.
Friday Night Polo
This season Empire Polo Club is offering Friday night “Polo Under The Lights” on the second Friday of each month. These dates include Jan. 9th, Feb. 13th and March 13th. Friday’s “Polo Under the Lights” game time is 5:30 PM in January and February, and 6:00 PM in March. Arrive early to get a good spot to tailgate. Bleacher seating is also available. Beverage service is available onsite during the Friday night games, which last approximately an hour. Admission, tailgating and parking are free for Friday night games. Spectators are welcome to bring their own food and beverages to this event. Enter on Monroe St. at Ave. 51 for Friday Night Polo.
2015 Friday Night Game Schedule
Friday, January 9th at 5:30 PM
Friday, February 13th at 5:30 PM
Friday, March 13th at 6:00 PM
2015 Season Highlights
Friday, January 9th – Friday Night “Polo Under the Lights”
This is the first featured Friday night polo match of the 2015 season. The game starts at 5:30 PM and lasts about an hour. Tailgaters are welcome and bleacher seating is available for spectators. Attendees are welcome to bring in their own picnic fare. Bar service is available during the Friday night polo games.
Sunday, January 11th – Opening Day & Hat Day
Opening Day of the 2015 polo season at Empire Polo Club is scheduled for Sunday, January 11th. Sunday Polo features two polo games, at 12 PM and 2 PM. A complimentary VIP Champagne Divot Stomp presented by Chandon will be held at halftime during the 2 PM game. Opening Day is also Hat Day! Help us celebrate this annual tradition by wearing your favorite chapeau.
Saturday, March 14th at 6:00 PM – USA vs. England in the USPA Townsend International Challenge Cup
Two teams will be flown in for this bi-annual event. The USPA Townsend International Challenge Cup is an arena game played between teams from the U.S. and England. The best polo players from each country are invited to compete. It is a fast-paced polo game featuring three players per team in the indoor polo stadium located on Ave. 51 behind the Tack Room Tavern Restaurant. Admission and parking are free. Stadium seating is available. Beverage service will be available during the game.
Sunday, March 29th – Champions Cup & Lions Cup Finals and Closing Day
Join us for the grand finale tournament and closing day of the polo season. There will be more than $70,000 in cash and prizes awarded to the teams that are in the final round of the Champions 6-8 Goals Final and the Lions Cup 4-Goal Final.
General Information
What to Wear? This is the one of the most frequently 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 sundresses, khakis and button down shirts.
Why Watch Polo? It’s a great way to spend your Sunday afternoon. Imagine sitting field-side, overlooking a series of immaculate polo fields surrounded by 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 horses gallop down the field.
Polo is never boring. Eight players travel 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’s a great spectator sport and general admission is FREE. You can’t beat that! There is a $10 parking fee for Sunday polo games.
Directions
There are multiple entrances to Empire Polo Club. The entrance for Sunday Polo games is on Ave. 50 between Madison St. and Monroe St. The entrance for Friday night “Under the Light” polo games in located on Monroe St. at Ave. 51.
Sunday Polo Entrance
From Interstate 10 take the Monroe St. exit. Head south on Monroe St. Take a right on Ave. 50 and you will see the Empire entrance gates on the left side of the road. Use the middle gate for tailgating access and General Admission parking. If you are a cabana holder, have VIP reservations for a table or if you are part of a group with reservations, use the third gate to access the VIP parking area.
Friday Night Polo Entrance
From Interstate 10 take the Monroe St. Exit. Head south on Monroe St. The main entrance to Field #3 and Friday Night Polo is on Monroe St. at Ave. 51.
About Empire Polo Club
Established in 1987, Empire Polo Club is one of the largest polo clubs on the West Coast with 12 polo fields, stabling for more than 500 horses and an indoor arena and polo school.
About the Polo Players
Empire Polo Club is a world-class, international polo club. Players from Canada, Mexico, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France, Germany, England and other countries flock to the desert to play polo at Empire Polo Club. Players’ ages range from young up-and-comers in their early teens to practiced seniors in their sixties.
Contact Information
Empire Polo Club
81-800 Ave. 51, Indio, CA 92201
www.EmpirePolo.com
General Info. Line
760-393-7298
VIP & Group Reservations
760-393-7298
