15 minute read
The Face of American Polo
Caption This will be Nic Roldan’s fourth time playing the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Presented by Talking
Stick Resort. (Photo courtesy of Nick Mele)
The Faceof of AMERICAN POLO
Nic Roldan has played polo around the world, but every year he’s drawn to the energy of the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Presented by Talking Stick Resort.
“I’ve played all over the world,” says Roldan, who is also a model. “You get to see some of the most incredible places, meet some incredible people and see some of the most beautiful fi elds and backdrops — Scottsdale being one of them.” is year, the event will celebrate its 10th anniversary with Roldan suiting up for the Aspen Valley Polo Club, owned by Marc and Melissa Ganzi. e club will face off against La Mariposa Argentina Polo Team, which is making its event debut.
Among the additional teams scheduled to play in 2021 are Jet Set Women’s All-Star Polo Team, Bogota Polo Team, Arizona Polo Club, Grand Champions Polo Club and Wine Country Polo.
“We love the spectators,” Roldan says. “We love the way they get behind the event and the whole party scene. It’s defi nitely one of a kind in the United States. ASU is close by, and the younger demographic goes as well. It’s always a fun event, defi nitely.”
Nic Roldan looks forward to Scottsdale’s beauty
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Fourth-generation star
Born December 4, 1982, in Buenos Aires, Roldan grew up with horses in Wellington, Florida, and Boston, as he started riding at age 2.
He comes from a long line of polo players: his great-grandfather, Audilio Bonadeo Ayrolo, won the Argentine Open in 1931 and 1938, while his grandfather and father also played.
“He pushed me, in a way, to play polo, but he wasn’t forcing me,” he says about his father. “He really pushed me to follow my dreams, work
Nic Roldan is the present leading American polo player, with an impressive 8-goal handicap rating.
There are a variety of seating options, like these viewing stands, where pologoers can sit fi eld-side and enjoy the four polo matches, plus all the festivities within the
event. (Photo courtesy of Dave Seibert)
Polo fans pose for pictures and enjoy the events within the event at the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. Unlike other professional sports, fans at the Scottsdale Polo Party will have a chance to meet the players, including Nic Roldan, who plays in polo matches around the
world. (Photo courtesy of Nic Roldan)
hard and pursue my passions. I have a hugely supportive family. My father played polo his whole life.”
Roldan played in his fi rst tourney when he was 6 and turned professional at 15, when he became the youngest polo player to win the 1998 U.S. Polo Open with the Escue
Team. When it became too hard to balance school and polo, his parents hired a private tutor to educate
Roldan.
“It’s historically one of the most important tournaments in the world,” Roldan says about the U.S. Polo Open. “I was the youngest to win the
U.S. Open at 15 years old, but it feels like a lifetime ago. I’m 38 now. I say this all the time, but at the end of the day, it’s what kick-started my career.”
Now with an 8-goal handicap rating, Roldan is the captain of the American polo team and is the country’s leading player. Winston Churchill once said, “Polo is a passport to the world.” Based in Wellington, Roldan enjoys the travel and the adrenaline associated with playing polo. “I’m a huge sports fan,” says Roldan, who also enjoys soccer, golf, tennis, biking and hiking. “ at’s all I ever do, is play sports, but to be able to create a bond with the horse and travel the fi eld at 25 to 30 miles per hour and hit a little ball fl ying in the air is incredible. It’s such a complex sport.” Polo is comparable to hockey, as it’s electric, fast, physical and rough, yet it’s the perfect spectator sport, he says. ‘ e beauty of polo is it gives me a lot of free time,” he says. “As an athlete in general, you can’t be training every day nonstop. I really started to grow a passion for real estate and interior design and architecture. As I was getting older — in my mid-20s — I started to invest money in houses, gutting and fl ipping them and selling them. I did really well with it.” The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has been performing at half-time since the Scottsdale Polo Party started 10 years ago. (Photo courtesy of Dave Seibert)
Dominick’s Steakhouse will join Neiman Marcus, Barrett-Jackson and Bentley Scottsdale for Prime: A Luxury Tent
Experience. (Photo courtesy of Dave Seibert)
Roldan is now invested in the building and design of homes, a clothing line, PoloGear, Super Coff ee, and he co-founded High Goal gin.
“ ey’re all brands that align with my passions and what my life is all about,” he says.
This will be the 10th anniversary of the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships when the event returns the polo fi elds at WestWorld of Scottsdale on October 23.
(Drone photo courtesy of James Larcher)
by Talking Stick Resort, is looking forward to the 10th annual event.
“ at’s a milestone I never thought would have been the case when we launched this creative, funky, crazy concept in 2011,” he says with a laugh.
“We have never seen ticket sales like this year. To put it in perspective, like this year. To put it in perspective, we are 310% ahead of 2019’s numbers. I think that really speaks to the longevity of the event and the pent-up demand. People know when they come to this event that they’re going to have an exceptional unique time.”
Featuring Roldan, this year’s event will see its biggest footprint, as “every possible piece of grass will be utilized,” as “every possible piece of grass will be utilized,” Rose says. Peripheral events include dog fashion shows, dance clubs on the fi eld of play, the world’s largest catwalk fashion show, rugby and the inaugural Morning Beer Festival.
“We’ve identifi ed beers that may taste a little better before noon,” Rose says. “If you want to get an early start, check out the fi rst Morning Beer Festival.
“And what would be a more dramatic and fun way to enter the event than by a zip line. It makes for a pretty interesting setup. You can enjoy the zip line throughout the day, too. You’ll be staring at the polo action when you’re zip lining.”
Rose says the goal is to create the unexpected so it may pique the public’s interest.
“ e strength of the event has been there’s something for everyone — the very young, older folks, gay, straight, Black, white,” Rose
Polo guests can all take to the fi eld during half-time of each of the matches for the ceremonial Stomping of the Divots.
(Photo courtesy of Dave Seibert)
says. “It’s been a melting pot of experience out there that has allowed this concept — now a major event — to continue evolving successfully.”
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 23 WHERE: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road COST: Tickets start at $30 INFO: 480-423-1414, thepoloparty.com, info@thepoloparty.com
FIT FOR AN EMPEROR
JB Smoove welcomes sports betting, Caesars Sportsbook to Arizona
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
he Emmy Awards, HBO and sports betting in Arizona have one thing in common. JB Smoove has a hand in them. Earlier this year, Smoove received his fi rst career Emmy nomination for Best Actor in a Short Form Series for his performance as Chief Billy Bills in the “Mapleworth Murders.” e nomination was a long time coming for the acclaimed showman.
“I got my start in the industry in the 1990s on the comedy circuit in New York and then with Def Jam Comedy, and eventually with a gig on MTV, just like Snookie,” Smoove says with a laugh.
Technically, his MTV break came with a 1999 recurring role on the channel’s “ e Lyricist Lounge Show,” not a reality television show.
In 1999, Smoove also landed a guest spot on HBO’s “ e Chris Rock Show,” where he would work for the fi rst time with Rock. In fact, Smoove eventually worked on Rock’s “Everybody Hates Chris” TV series in the mid-2000s and then star with Rock in the 2014 feature fi lm “Top Five.”
During the nearly 15 years in between “ e Chris Rock Show” and “Top Five,” Smoove worked as a cast member on “Cedric the Entertainer Presents “and earned a writing position on “Saturday Night Live,” which, in 2007, earned Smoove and his fellow writing partners a Writers Guild award for Best Comedy/Variety Series.
He also appeared in “Date Night” with Steve Carell and Tina Fey and the Farrelly Brothers-directed comedy “Hall Pass,” as well as “ e Sitter” with Jonah Hill, “We Bought a Zoo” with Matt Damon and “ e Dictator” opposite Sacha Baron Cohen.
In 2007, Smoove not only earned the “SNL” honors, but he began his career-defi ning role as Leon Black on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
“I joined in season six after my fi ctional sister, Loretta Black (played by Vivica A. Fox), was displaced during Hurricane (Edna) and moved in with Larry David,” Smoove says.
His character also moved into David’s palatial California mansion despite already living in Los Angeles and never experiencing Katrina-like fi ctional Edna himself. “I moved in and never left.”
Smoove’s masculine, ultra-confi dent, freeloading character quickly became a fan favorite on the highly improvised series, which follows “Seinfeld” co-creator David as he plays a version of himself living semi-retired and always annoyed in Los Angeles.
“Most people don’t know, but JB actually stands for Jerry Brooks, so I am technically the second Jerry to hilariously terrorize Larry on TV,” Smoove says.
After being derailed by COVID-19, Smoove and David will return to the small screen later this month for the muchanticipated 11th season of the series.
JB Smoove recently won an Emmy for his performance as Chief Billy Bills in "Mapleworth Murders."
(Submitted photo)
JB Smoove served as Caesar Entertainment's Caesar to kick off sports betting across the state of Arizona.
(Submitted photo)
FIT FOR AN EMPEROR
“While I can’t give anything away, this season is a sure bet for viewers,” Smoove says. “And you can trust me, because I am now the grand emperor of the betting world.”
While that may sound like hyperbole, Smoove is only half joking.
On September 9, Smoove rolled into Phoenix on a chariot — a luxury Uber wrapped like a chariot, to be more specifi c — to serve as Caesars Entertainment’s Caesar to usher in sports betting across Arizona. He joined executives from Caesars Entertainment as well as Derrick Hall and Luis Gonzalez of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the public celebration.
“ e Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, is going to be a state-of-art entertainment destination unlike any other in Arizona,” Smoove says.
During the ceremonial fi rst bet on September 9, Smoove provided a $20,000 donation from Caesars to the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation to fete the partnership and the organization’s commitment to the community. e sportsbook, sports bar and broadcast studio, made possible through Caesars’ exclusive sports betting and daily fantasy partnership, will be located at the former Game 7 Grill space located just outside of Chase Field. It will feature a sports betting experience befi t for an emperor and an all-inclusive experience for nonsports bettors alike. e approximately 20,000-square-foot, two-story venue will feature indoor and outdoor seating options including two fl oors of sports betting space, a full-service bar and VIP lounge, an extensive menu, and wall-to-wall fl at screens. e space will be open year-round, but no wagering is allowed on game days. e venue will have fl exible hours of operation to cater to specifi c sporting events. Bet like a Caesar: Two fl oors of sports betting space provide a next-level atmosphere to bet. Whether it’s with a teller at a kiosk, or on the Caesars Sportsbook app, customers will have many choices to easily place a wager. Watch like a Caesar: With around 1,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor LED screens, Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field will be a sports environment worthy of any Caesars emperor. With many major sporting events being displayed, customers will never have to worry about asking to change the channel again. Dine like a Caesar: A sports betting experience befi t for an emperor needs a menu to feast like one. Customers can indulge in top-notch food in 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining space. Hydrate like a Caesar: Caesar never walks around without his goblet, so customers can make sure to have a drink in hand, too. Emperors can grab their preferred beverage of choice at the inside or outside bar, or even at the private bar in the VIP lounge. Arrive like a Caesar: Caesar never strolled far to get where he wanted once he stepped off his chariot. at will be the case at Caesars Sportsbook, where the action is easily accessible from parking areas surrounding Chase Field.
“ e Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field will be the premier sports betting and entertainment destination in Downtown Phoenix,” says Hall, the president and chief executive offi cer of the Arizona D-backs.
“D-backs fans, Arizona residents and outof-state visitors, whether they are sports bettors or not, should look forward to this state-ofthe-art, year-round location that will feature fi rst-class dining, betting and hospitality experience — all while taking in their favorite sporting event or watching their favorite team. is sportsbook will transform the sports viewing experience in Arizona.”
While the permanent space is being built, according to Smoove, fans can make a bet at Chase Field at ticket windows 21 to 25, marking the fi rst MLB stadium where sports fans can place an in-person wager. Leading up to the grand opening of the retail space, bets can also be placed at fi ve betting kiosks on the north side of the plaza being installed in the interim.
“As Caesar, I would be remiss if I didn’t also note my reign over sports betting through modern technology in Arizona as well,” Smoove says.
Arizonans can download the Caesars Sportsbook app, register and place bets at their fi ngertips as well. e easy-to-navigate app integrates mobile sports betting with Caesars’ industry-leading loyalty program, Caesars Rewards, where every bet, win or lose rewards the bettor with Tier Credits and Reward Credits that can be used to unlock unbeatable experiences within the Caesars portfolio of properties and partnerships, including access to VIP experiences with the D-backs at Chase Field for registered app users in Arizona.
“We are all Caesars now! Let the bets begin, Arizona!” Smoove says.
Caesars Entertainment's sports betting experience is befi t for an emperor. (Submitted photo)
Preview
Performances and artwork arrive this fall
There is nothing quite as special as experiencing a new theatrical performance or concert that makes one think. Sharing it with others who are on the same journey makes it even more impactful.
After a long pandemic absence of live performances, local theaters and concert halls around the Valley off er a chance to see favorite artists, classical compositions and theatrical productions live this fall.
Check out these local events in the next few months.
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