The United States Polo Association (USPA) and the National Polo Center-Wellington (NPC) recently announced the 2025 NPC winter season schedule, highlighted by the prestigious Gauntlet of Polo, the NPC 16-Goal Championship, the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship and National President’s Cup.
Celebrate the opening game of the season on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. The new year will kick off with the Heritage Cup final set for Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. Tickets for general admission and Sunday brunch will be available for purchase online later this summer at www.nationalpolocenter.com. In 2025, select tournaments will be livestreamed on USPA digital channels. Visit www.uspolo.org for more information.
The 2025 Gauntlet of Polo will serve as the signature event of the NPC season, beginning Feb. 7-23 with the C.V. Whitney Cup, continuing with the USPA Gold Cup from Feb. 24 to March 23, and concluding with the U.S. Open Polo Championship from March 24 to April 20. The prize money distribution for the 2025 season will follow last year’s format, with $50,000 awarded to each of the winning teams of the C.V. Whitney Cup and the USPA Gold Cup, and $100,000 presented to the winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
Also included in the schedule is the third edition of the NPC 16-Goal Championship. Qualifiers will be played across multiple clubs, with the championship hosted by NPC. Participating clubs include the Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee) as well as the Wellington Polo Tour (WPT) led by Patagones Polo Club (Wellington) and a group of private fields falling under the WPT umbrella.
The NPC 16-Goal Championship is comprised of four USPA tournament events, including the Joe Barry Memorial, the Ylvisaker Cup, the Iglehart Cup and the Outback Cup. Each tournament will serve as a qualifier, and teams will accumulate points based on their standing in the four designated qualifiers to be eligible for the NPC 16-Goal Championship.
In addition, the NPC season will showcase USPA members from clubs around the country competing at the low-goal level. The second edition of the National President’s Cup, at the NPC venue and under a new format, will bring together some of the most talented 8-goal teams in the nation. The tournament will consist of up to 14 qualifying tournaments played June 2024 through April 2025, with the winning teams advancing to the National President’s Cup at NPC in April 2025.
Regional President’s Cup qualifying tournaments will be awarded to one member club in each of the 11 USPA circuits. The Florida Circuit, host of the National President’s Cup, will be the only exception, with four qualifying events awarded. The winner of each qualifier will be invited to the National President’s Cup competition, and teams advancing from a club outside the Florida Circuit will receive a $10,000 travel stipend.
NPC looks forward to welcoming spectators every Sunday afternoon from Dec. 29, 2024, through April 27, 2025, to enjoy the thrill of spectating on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One. Learn more at www.nationalpolocenter.com.
