MUMBAI: When the world of high-stakes horseplay meets polished network sportscasting, you know something's up. Global Polo Entertainment (GPE), the entertainment arm of USPA Global, has extended its historic relationship with ESPN through 2026, continuing its mission to put polo on prime time and give the sport a much-needed gallop into global relevance.
In what might just be the classiest team-up since caviar met toast, ESPN will again air top-flight polo events, including the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship®, and the Gauntlet of Polo®. These majestic clashes will take place on the U.S. Polo Assn. Stadium Field One. Fans can catch them on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN.com, and the ESPN App—a regular polo-palooza across platforms.
To stir the pot further, veteran ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler has been confirmed to host the 2025 U.S. Open Polo Championship on 20 April. With nearly 30 years under his broadcasting belt, Fowler is no stranger to posh sporting drama. From college football to Grand Slam tennis and the Triple Crown, the man has seen it all—and now, he’s swapping gridirons and clay courts for polo fields.
"I've been a fan of the sport of polo for years, and now I’m excited to be part of the genuine polo experience by hosting the U.S. Open Polo Championship in front of what is expected to be the largest crowd to ever watch the pinnacle of the sport in North America," said Fowler.
The expanded ESPN deal builds on the original 2022 agreement that gave polo a long-overdue global push. The partnership has already trotted the sport into millions of households across continents, bringing in fresh fans faster than a thoroughbred out the gate.
USPA Global president & CEO J. Michael Prince which oversees the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand, praised the collaboration, "The addition of Chris Fowler to the U.S. Open Polo Championship broadcast team is a credit to the success of this groundbreaking relationship and serves to further drive the global momentum of the sport around the world."
“We believe Chris aligns with the tradition, sophistication, passion, and global reach of our sport!” Prince added.
But there’s more than just galloping horses and glossy broadcasts. ESPN will also continue airing GPE’s slickly produced 25-minute specials under the award-winning Breakaway: Presented by U.S. Polo Assn. series. Upcoming episodes include Polo in the Palm Beaches, Women in Polo, Polo in College and the royally cheeky Polo in England. These episodes will gallop across international screens via StarSports, beIN Sports, and Times of India.
USPA chairman Stewart Armstrong echoed the enthusiasm, "The USPA is delighted with the long-term vision of the ESPN relationship and with the recognition polo is receiving from a new fan base around the world by watching polo on ESPN."
With the U.S. Open Polo Championship set to be a galloping spectacle, and Fowler at the reins, 2025 might just be the year polo breaks from niche to mainstream. Saddle up, sport fans.
