Aspen Valley Polo Club Wins Record Eighth Title At Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., November 8, 2023---In front of a record crowd, Aspen Valley Polo Club added another chapter to its history books.

By Sharon Robb

The team of Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi and Nic Roldan won an unprecedented eighth title at the recent 12th annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships presented by Talking Stick Resort on The Polo Field at WestWorld.

Aspen Valley Polo Club defeated the Wales Polo Team (Ricky Cooper, Jason Crowder, Pete Webb), 8-5, to capture the coveted Molina Cup. Roldan had a game-high six goals. Father and son each had one goal.

"It's always a great event to be part of," Roldan said. "Love Scottsdale and its fans."

In the opening game, Pride USA Polo Team (Sterling Jones, Juan Bollini Sr., Ryan Cronin-Prather) defeated Texas Garland Polo Team (Oscar Chacon Hidalgo, Johan Felhaber/Alec Felhaber. Vaughn Miller Jr.), 8-4. Cronin-Prather and Bollini each had three goals and Jones added two.

In other matches during the fun-filled day:

The USA women's team (Carolyn Likas, Natalie Grancharov, Danielle Travis, Courtney Parker) defeated Arizona Polo Club (Martin Morey, Greg Holditch, Diego Flores, Andres Camacho), 7-5.

New Orleans Polo Club (Jay Wimberly, Sebastian Koga, Max Secunda) defeated North Scottsdale Polo Team (Josh Black, Martin Rincon, Abigail Miller), 11-1.

The most attended polo event in the United States is one of the most extravagant outdoor sports spectacles in not only Arizona but the United States and has helped increase polo's exposure and popularity.

Event founder and Scottsdale public relations executive Jason Rose continues to raise the event’s bar every year since he started it in 2011. Ticket sales along with food and beverage sales for the 2023 set records for revenue.

"One day we will look back on the amazing Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships and history will show just what a contribution this man Jason Rose and the event have made to the world of polo," said Wales captain Ricky Cooper.

"It is simply the best polo event in the world, pure unrivaled entertainment that brings together so much action into one day of power-packed polo promotion."

Among fan favorites at this year's event  were the "Birds Nest Style" Sunset After Party, organized for the first time by Top Event Promoter Walter Productions featuring Burning Man favorites Walter the Bus, Kalliope and Flame Effects; expanded Riot House;  World's Longest Fashion Show; 10th Canine Couture; preview of the 2024 Barrett-Jackson's Collector Car Auction; expanded wine taasting and variety of food, drink and music offered.

The event has grown every year with about a quarter of a mile worth of tents that were set up for Saturday.

"To set yet another ticket revenue record in these challenging economic conditions showed again the expanse and enthusiasm for this one-of-a-kind event," Rose said. "We couldn't be more grateful to the sponsors, fans and players."

Aspen Valley Polo Club finished a successful season in club and Rocky Mountain Circuit history this past summer. With the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, Aspen Valley Polo Club has become the world's destination spot for summer and snow polo.     

Since Marc and Melissa Ganzi resurrected the club and polo in 2014, polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club's offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, Kids Wheely Polo, The Polo School headed by former 8-goaler Juan Bollini, and Polo On Demand. In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments.