In February history was made as the United States hosted the FIP Arena Polo World Cup for the first time. The tournament spanned a week’s time with games held alternately between the Virginia Polo Center and Roseland Polo Club in Crozet. FIP provided the perfect unveiling of the newly built Holden Outdoor Arena at Virginia Polo both to large crowds of spectators, livestream audiences, and much of the US arena polo world in person for the games.
The FIP ponies enter the Holden Arena at Virginia Polo for the semi final game 1. Photo credit to Astrid Brock
The Holden Arena was built to replace the previous outdoor arena at Virginia Polo. After 40 years replacement was needed and alumni support enabled the club to replace the arena in May 2025. We were delighted to have the Holden Arena showcased on an international stage via livestream. Along with filiming, the games drew a huge audience to the Virginia Polo Center. All around the arena the rail was filled with cars and spectators for the Friday night semi finals. Bleachers were brought in to accommodate the significant number of spectators. Admission was free and all were welcome to attend.
FIP Arena Polo World Cup Semi Final game 1. Virginia Polo alumni watch from their specially reserved tailgate area. Photo credit to Astrid Brock.
The UVA student players of the Virginia Polo Club put in many hours and days of work helping to prepare the Polo Center to host the tournament and visiting horses. In addition to sprucing up the barns and arenas, students took advanctage of the opportunity to raise awareness and fundraise for their beloved polo club. Through student initiative they offered a bake sale, specialty lemonade drinks, sold Virginia Polo merchandise and raised an impressive amount through a raffle for a box of locally raised beef and an online auction for a large painting created and donated by a founding member’s granddaughter.
Virginia Polo alumni don the red white and blue to cheer on the USA Team in semi final game 2. Photo credit to Astrid Brock.
Along with their fundraising efforts, the student players all signed up to help in various ways to make hosting the tournament a great success. From lining the arena, to pre match clean ups, to orchestrating spectator parking our students made us proud. They represented the Virginia Polo Club so well and inspired many compliments from visiting polo personnel and alumni alike.
Virginia Polo Club co-President fourth year Mackenzie Craig prepares a pony for the FIP finals at Roseland Polo Club. Mackenzie organized student sign-ups for help hosting the tournament. Photo credit to Dan Addison.
Hosting the tournament was beneficiail to the Virginia Polo Club as a fundraising itself from the rental fees paid by the United States Polo Association, but it also gave polo people from all over the opportunity to see up close how the Virginia Polo Club is run. Students also benefitted from the opportunity to learn from professional photographers, the USPA staff, and meet polo players and coaches from all over the world.
Alumni line the rails to enjoy hosting the FIP Arena Polo World Cup semi finals.
Always ready to help out, Assistant Coach & Barn Manager Abbie Grant lent her impressive talents at announcing to the games. She made our community proud as she was able to eloquently call the players by name and kept the play-by-play lively and engaging with her narrations.
Virginia Polo’s Assistant Coach & Barn Manager Abbie Grant announced the FIP games at Virginia Polo. Photo credit to Astrid Brock.