The Most Attended Polo Event in America Saw Over 13,000 Spectators Over Two Days of Matches
The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships celebrated its 14th edition this past weekend at WestWorld with six exhilarating matches, 13,137 attendees, two full days of festivities and plenty of patriotism, surprises, memorable moments and three Valley mayors took part — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky, and Paradise Valley Mayor Mark Stanton.
Held Saturday, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 9 at WestWorld of Scottsdale, this year’s event coincided with the debut of the WestWorld Art & Wine Experience, giving Polo Party guests a chance to check out fine art, local wines and eye-catching exhibits on their way through the events’ new shared entryway.
Taking place right before Veterans Day, this year’s Championships also included a series of patriotic elements, featuring the event’s first-ever Army vs. Navy polo match and Mayor Borowsky riding into the polo field on horseback, American flag in hand, to introduce the National Anthem.
While the energy in the stands and VIP tents was electric, so, too, was the action on the field, with six thrilling matches featuring players from across the nation and around the globe giving guests sideline seats to all the action. Here’s how it all unfolded across two
full days of play:
Saturday Matches:
- Mark Taylor’s Arizona Polo Club defeated Compass’ New Orleans Polo Club 8 – 4.
- Stella Artois’ Navy team defeated Barrett-Jackson’s Army 11 – 2 in the inaugural military matchup.
- The Bentley Scottsdale Wales National Polo Team defeated Gila River Resort & Casino’s Wine Country Polo Club, the 2024 event champions, 10 – 5,reclaiming the title after many years including an eight-year run by the Aspen Valley Polo Club.
- Maserati Sonoma Polo Team defeated Sanderson Lincoln’s Royal County Berkshire Polo Club. 9 – 7.
Sunday Matches:
- The women’s Bentley Scottsdale team took home the win in the Battles of the Sexes match title in a 10-7 victory against the
men’s Stella Artois team. - Team Aston Martin claimed the win over the City of Scottsdale in the International All-Stars Match, with a final score of 9-6.
Two celebratory polo preview parties kicked off the festivities Thursday night at the Gebert Contemporary Art Gallery in Old Town Scottsdale and Friday night at Neiman Marcus. Polo players, VIP ticket purchasers and dignitaries including Mayor Borowsky toasted the start of the polo weekend. There were also special performances by the Phoenix Gay Men’s Chorus and the Arizona Opera.
Spectators also enjoyed plenty of off-field action, from memorable ball drops to the fan-favorite Canine Couture, which was judged by Mayor Gallego and Phoenix Fashion Week’s World’s Longest Catwalk fashion show to a one-of-a-kind performance of Oasis’ smash hit, “Champagne Supernova,” by Whiskey’s Quicker, led by Arizona sports media personality Dan Bickley.
Warm temperatures and clear skies created ideal conditions for ponies and players and a lively, welcoming atmosphere for fans, while afterparties at Casa Amigos Scottsdale and DraftKings Sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale kept the energy high long after the lights went down on the polo field.
“This year’s event included everything that makes the Polo Party one of the nation’s most memorable events – major matchups, big crowds, musical, cultural and automotive elements and an electric atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else,” said Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships Founder Jason Rose. “While we make a point to bring back everything our fans know and love, we also introduced a number of new elements this year, like the new entry through the WestWorld Art & Wine Experience and the first-ever Army vs. Navy matchup, to keep things fresh and continue to elevate the experience.”
As the sun sets on the 2025 Polo Party, event organizers are already looking forward to next year’s installment and finding new ways to raise the bar at one of Arizona’s signature sporting and lifestyle events