From April 24 to 27, all of the big fish in Miami came out for the coveted 10th Annual La Martina Miami Beach Polo World Cup, the South Beach Polo competition held between 20th and 22nd streets on the sands of South Beach. More than 10,000 people attend the event four days each year and the tournament attracts professional polo players from as far as Russia, Switzerland and Malaysia, as well as the very best from South America. The four-day affair featured leading polo players competing in two tournaments for both men and women.
The La Martina South Beach Women’s Polo Cup VI took place on Thursday, April 24, featuring eight women’s teams in a one-day series of round-robin championship matches. Last year’s winning team was not back to defend their title as 2013 champions, which left the door open for a number of top-rated challengers to come out on top such as Maggie McNamara, Tara Lordi, Cristina Hosmer, Laura Willson and Tannis Marley’s entry from Kentucky that includes Cary Campbell and Posey Obrecht, among others. La Martina, Eden Roc, Fontainebleau Aviation and E! Entertainment were all Women’s Polo Cup team sponsors.
The La Martina Miami Beach Polo World Cup X, the three-day men’s tournament celebrating its tenth year, occurred Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. Six teams included some of the world’s top-ranked players, including Beach Polo’s only 10-goaler, Matias Magrini, three-time MVP John Gobin, Luis Escobar, Brandon Phillips, Juan Monteverde, Carlitos Gracida, Gringo Colombres and Guille Usandizaga. La Martina, Metropolitan by COMO, The Raleigh, Comcast, Yellow Cab and Tommy Kato’s Merchant Hub sponsored competing men’s teams.
“This year’s La Martina Miami Beach Polo World Cup is our most prestigious to date. 2014 is the culmination of an entire decade of bringing the nation’s first-ever professional Beach Polo tournament to South Florida,” said Bruce Orosz, president and co-founder of The Polo Life. “Thanks to the City of Miami Beach and everyone involved, we have made Miami Beach Polo World Cup one of the most popular annual events on the region’s social and sporting calendars. The competition has also become a highly sought-after exhibition event by some of today’s top polo players from around the world. We are also one step closer to announcing our international expansion of The Polo Life into a far eastern territory, which we are very excited to reveal. We thank all of our patrons, sponsors and supporters with helping to make the last ten years such a success.”
Invited attendees once again experienced the annual series of nightly VIP events that form an essential part of the four-day festivities. The annual fashion show by La Martina in the VIP tent on Saturday afternoon was one of the highlights of the weekend, with gorgeous models showcasing the latest in polo fashions, as well as Sunday Morning “Brunch on the Beach” by celebrity chef, Michelle Bernstein.
Lou La Vie also presented Auto Art Miami, a curated installation of the world’s most significant automobiles, on Sunday, between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Around 50 automobiles valued at over $100 million were installed at Collins Park for art lovers, enthusiasts and design aficionados to enjoy before, during and after the tournament’s match play.
As part of the luxury consumer experience, attendees were also able to browse and purchase dozens of luxury brands within the event’s retail village, including the latest from La Martina, Dragonfly Boatworks, Dressage Collection, Artesano, MissNYET and Buccellati. Complimentary food and beverages on-site in the VIP tent were provided by 15 Steps, Fogo de Chao, Red The Steakhouse, Trapiche Wines and Perfect Vodka.
