Gladiator Polo has taken the equestrian world by storm, bringing together troves of fans from around the country to experience this new high-growth horse sport. With a successful inaugural season in Wellington, Fla., during the winter of 2017 and an immensely popular showcase game at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in late June, worldwide interest and awareness of the game has increased significantly setting the table for a number of national and international initiatives that will be announced in the next month. 

The Gladiator Polo $120,000 “Battle for the Carolinas” Fall Series, featuring four teams battling to claim the championship title and $120,000 in prize money throughout the series, will begin on Friday, Sept. 1 and continue through the end of the month. Two teams from each of the Carolinas will battle for their respective states and finish the series with a North Carolina versus South Carolina clash not to be missed on Saturday, Sept. 30. 

“I’m thrilled to bring new energy to the world’s oldest team sport and revitalize polo on a global scale,” said Bellissimo. “The players and the league are already seeing increased enthusiasm for polo because of this modern approach. We look forward to dramatically expanding interest for players, fans, and sponsors.”

The series kicks off with the “Battle for South Carolina” with Team Greenville against Team Spartanburg on Friday, Sept. 1. Carlucho Arellano, Mariano Obregon, and Pelon Escapite will wear black for Team Greenville, while Juan Martin Obregon, Jeff Hall, and Alan Martinez will wear red for Spartanburg.

 The “Battle for North Carolina” will feature Team Charlotte against Team Asheville and will take place on Saturday, Sept. 9, as an installment of TIEC’s signature “Saturday Night Lights” (SNL) events.

Team Charlotte, in teal, will see the return of Santi Torres, Jared Zenni, and Facundo Obregon, while Team Asheville will be represented by Geronimo Obregon, Jason Crowder, and Costi Caset in purple.

The “Battle for the Carolinas” series championship will see the clash of the two winning teams on Saturday, Sept. 30.

In September, Bellissimo will provide details for an enhanced Professional Gladiator Polo League, which will launch in Wellington during the winter of 2018. The Professional Gladiator Polo League will include a highly publicized player draft and feature team owners, similar to the most popular major league sports in North America. Eight teams will test their skills throughout the season in hopes of collecting a percentage of the minimum $500,000 of prize money offered through the duration of the series.

Find game information and updates on major announcements regarding Gladiator Polo and the Professional Gladiator Polo League by following us on Facebook by searching “Gladiator Polo.” 

The Gladiator Polo Fall Series is held in conjunction with the six-week Tryon Fall Show Series presented by Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, which will begin on Friday, Sept. 22, and continue through Sunday, Oct. 29.

 If interested in team sponsorship or team ownership, please contact Gates Gridley at jgridley@equestriansport.com. For more information on Gladiator Polo, please visit www.gladiatorpolo.com.

– article submitted by Michelle McConnell Yelton