Palermo Polo Open: A World of Numbers
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Palermo has once again concluded. One more chapter in the storied history of the event held at the Polo Cathedral, the world's most important polo stadium, located in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires and inaugurated in 1928.
The revered Catedral del Polo is more than just one of the city's most iconic landmarks; it is a space that is constantly reinventing itself. In recent times, the focus has broadened beyond the equestrian sport itself. It has been skillfully transformed into a unique experience for families and friends, featuring gastronomy by Argentina’s top chefs, recreational areas, games for children, live music, and activities year-round.
This comprehensive offering makes the venue a vibrant meeting point suitable for all audiences. However, the true nerve center of the grounds is during the Argentine Polo Open, held from November through the first week of December, when ten elite teams compete for glory.
The Multi million-Dollar Polo Industry
Thousands of high-end tourists and polo enthusiasts arrive in Argentina during this period. This influx of visitors helps the event generate between $2.5 million and $3 million in revenue in just the initial dates of the Palermo Open. This figure increases exponentially as the tournament heads into the final stages.
Polo in Argentina is a multimillion-dollar business, estimated to move hundreds of millions of dollars annually across various activities, although a consolidated public figure for the entire industry does not exist. The business encompasses horse breeding and export, polo tourism, player salaries, and the organization of top-tier tournaments.
Argentina is the global leader in polo horse breeding and export, shipping between 3,000 and 3,500 horses per year. The value of an elite polo horse can reach very high figures, with specialized cloning services exceeding $80,000.
To grasp the sheer scale of the Argentine Polo Open, consider this: it alone accounts for as much revenue (from sponsors and investments) as all other polo tournaments in the country combined. Brands pay between $150,000 and $900,000 for a presence at Palermo. For instance, HSBC, the tournament's main sponsor for 20 years and still associated, invests nearly $1 million in the world’s best polo event.
The Sponsors and the Teams
The enormous range of sponsors for the 2025 edition included major partners such as Galicia National Bank (the new principal sponsor for the tournament) and Ford Argentina (Official Sponsor of the Polo Open), alongside high-profile brands with smaller investments like ESPN, Stanley, Hublot, RAM, Visita Argentina, Turkish Airlines, Carolina Herrera, YPF, Imperial, Motorola, Omint, and Trapiche.
The initial dates offer free entry to the public, leading to massive attendance. A single weekend of polo at Palermo can draw between 11,000 and 18,500 people.
Beyond the tournament's direct revenue, the polo industry, while niche for a country the size of Argentina, is highly profitable with a significant direct and indirect economic impact. Polo tourism alone is estimated to generate around $30 million annually, attracting thousands of international visitors interested in Argentine polo classes, matches, and the overall experience.
A horse competing in the Palermo Open ranges from $50,000 to $150,000. If it performs exceptionally well in the final, its value can skyrocket up to ten times that amount. Furthermore, a 10-goal polo player (the highest handicap) can earn around $1.5 million per year in contracts and prizes.
It is estimated that every polo player generates about ten jobs, including grooms (petiseros), saddlers, and veterinarians, creating a stable local community and a valuable supply chain within the country.
Playing for Glory, Not Cash
Interestingly, players do not earn prize money for competing in the Palermo Open, unlike tournaments in the UK or the US. Some second-tier players barely manage to cover their high costs. The drive here is purely for the glory. The most iconic organizations, however, manage to secure agreements that help them mitigate the expenses of playing in this type of tournament.
Crucially, the Palermo Open is unique globally because all four players on each team are professionals, whereas foreign tournaments often feature an amateur player/patron who finances the entire team's budget.
The victorious team in the final will receive the Galicia Argentine Polo Open Gold Cup presented by Visa. Individual awards will include: MVP (Most Valuable Player), Best Playing Pony (for the final's best horse), Tournament Top Scorer, and Best Argentine Polo Breed Player-Registered Product (distinguishing the best Argentine Criollo polo horse). No cash prizes are awarded.
Here is the sponsor list for the participating teams in this edition:
La Natividad La Dolfina: Sancor Seguros (Main Sponsor of La Dolfina club), AlUla (Long-term sponsor of La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team), Under Armour, and Fiat.
Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú Vista: Jeep (Official vehicle/historic partner with the Pieres families), DailyMail, Rocktree, RUS, Johnnie Walker, Bodega Trapiche, Cerveza Imperial, Sierra de los Padres, and Enero.
La Zeta Kazak: BMW (Main Sponsor).
UAE Polo Team: Main sponsor is the United Arab Emirates state.
Sol de Agosto: Autos Pilar, Hanseatica, Polo Ranch Country, Solsken, and Hanseatica.
Los Machitos El Refugio: Quesos La Suerte.
La Hache Cría & Polo: Vista, Portofino Capital, Hanseatica Seguros, and Cavalier Polo.
La Ensenada: Marca Luján, Biotech Clonarge, Hernán Dietrich, and Municipalidad de Ensenada and Puerto La Plata.
La Irenita La Hache: Clinova, GWM, BTG Pactual, RUS, PAX Assistance, Equimetre by Finca La Rosina, Tendonall Equine, and Imperial.
La Dolfina II: Sancor Seguros and Government of Saudi Arabia.