The Oak Brook Polo Club kicks off its 97th season Sunday and continues its 2019 campaign with eight additional Sunday matches on the field at 2606 York Road.
The schedule features the return of popular matches, Horses & Horsepower, Butler Challenge and Jaguar Concours along with the Horses & Hops beer festival. Two new sideline events in conjunction with matches are Horses & Harleys and Sips & Saddles champagne and wine festival.
In addition to its International Polo Series, the Oak Brook Polo Club will host two United States Polo Association sanctioned 8-goal tournaments, the Chicago Polo Open and the new Oak Brook Polo Open, presented by Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse.
After several years of funding polo expenses out of the village budget with a deficit, officials made a deal in 2016 for a private entity to take over operations, which continues into 2019.
Village President Gopal Lalmalani said Oak Brook polo has grown in popularity since the village outsourced it to Pineoak Partners.
“They have done a great job of providing this spectacular sporting event and keeping with Oak Brook’s rich history of competitive polo,” Lalmalani said.
The 2019 schedule:
• June 9: Oak Brook Polo Season Opener – Horses & Horsepower
• June 23: Butler Challenge Cup – Polo for Conservation
• July 14: Gibsons Oak Brook Polo Open – Village Appreciation
• July 28: R.R. McCormick Cup – Jaguar Concours
• Aug. 4: Drake Challenge Cup – Horses & Harleys
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• Aug. 18: Chicago Polo Open – Horses & Hops
• Sept. 8: Merrill Lynch Butler International Cup – Diapers & Divots
• Sept. 15: Cecil Smith Cup – Sips & Saddles
• Sept. 22: Illinois Players Cup – Team Up For Tony Sekera
A variety of ticket options are available: $12 per person for lawn seating; $60 per car for tailgating or $75 for VIP tailgating; $50 VIP (includes field-site seating in Saddle Club and champagne during divot stomp); $108 Brunch, VIP and Saddle Club access.
For groups of eight or more, information is available at www.oakbrookpoloclub.com or by calling 630-368-5095. Ticket prices for select events may differ from typical pricing.
“It is our mission to make polo accessible, affordable and memorable for everyone who attends and reestablish Oak Brook as Chicago’s home for the sport of polo,” said Danny O’Leary, managing director of Oak Brook Polo Club.