Pastures new

Its future may be uncertain, but the sale of the International Polo Club Palm Beach has already prompted a surge in sponsorship, reports Darlene Ricker

While the 2016 US high-goal season was playing out on the fields of the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), another intense competition was taking place behind closed doors. At stake was the ownership of IPC, which had become the subject of speculation since it was placed on the market several years ago. The future of polo in Wellington – and along with it, the continued viability of the United States as the reigning winter venue for international polo – hung in the balance. After a protracted bidding war, on 18 March, the news hit: the Goodman family trust had agreed to sell the IPC facilities and surrounding properties, totalling 248 acres, to Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEP). WEP owns the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and operates both the Winter Equestrian and Adequan Global Dressage Festivals.

‘Our partnership wanted to ensure that IPC was going to be protected as a long-term venue for polo and other equestrian sports, which is key to Wellington’s economy,’ Bellissimo said in announcing the purchase. ‘We are now positioned to achieve a new level of prominence and excellence for the competitor and visitor experience at all our venues. This allows us to establish and showcase Wellington as the world destination for polo, showjumping and dressage.’

Signs of WEP’s interest in expanding into polo were there from the start of the 2016 Florida season, although few could have predicted the extent to which it would reach.

From far left Spectators fill the IPC stands for the 2015 high-goal season; Mark Bellissimo with his wife Katherine

The sidelines at IPC were abuzz during the 20-goal Joe Barry Cup on 21 January, when word spread during the match between Orchard Hill and Audi/Millarville that WEP had purchased the Wanderers Club (a private golf, tennis, fitness and dining club, which also has a polo field). The purchase gave Bellissimo more property near the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The US$6.8m deal, also with the Goodman family trust, was executed within weeks.

Two months later, in the midst of the 26-goal USPA Gold Cup, the announcement about the IPC deal went public, and the US$72m transaction closed a few days after the US Open final in April. It was the proverbial ‘shot heard round the world’. What would the sale mean for polo, considering WEP has a vested interest in dressage and jumping competitions and that space in Wellington for equestrian events is already at, and in some cases beyond, capacity?

While small portions of IPC have occasionally been rented to hunter/jumper shows, early signs appear promising for polo. Bellissimo has steadfastly vowed that he intends to preserve the sport in Wellington, and the USPA has tournament contracts with IPC to 2018. When it comes down to details, though, no one will really know for a while what the ‘new’ IPC will look like.

In an interview with Hurlingham two weeks after the IPC sale closed, Bellissimo said he expects to have an organisation and management plan in place by 1 July. He confirmed that additional hiring is anticipated. ‘We have an amazing, strong group of existing staff members, and we want to infuse the team with fresh ideas and innovation,’ he said.

A silver lining to the sale appears to be the likelihood of more money flowing in through corporate sponsorships. Bellissimo is a master at forging top-shelf sponsorship deals, having secured more than 100 sponsors for the Winter Equestrian Festival. Since his purchase of IPC was announced, he said, ‘a record number of sponsors’ have already been in touch.

‘The sport has had a very weak history regarding sponsorship,’ noted Bellissimo. He said he wants to ‘create excitement about the athletes’ – both two- and four-footed – to entice spectators and attract sponsors. That should come as welcome news to the USPA and to patrons, who have long desired a boost in sponsorship numbers.