Tailgate parties and TV? Polo in football territory

LEANA ORSUA, NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Crews construct bleacher seating on the east side of the polo fields. Turn to the Sports section for more on the local polo scene.

STEVE MALONE/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

A painter touches up the interior of a large tent at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club in preparation for Sunday's Triple Crown of Polo Championship. ESPN will be filming the event so TV viewers can check out the action: The broadcast will air Sept. 17 on ESPN2. TCP President David McLane says it will be the first time the sport has received worldwide television distribution.

August 26, 2006 6:58 AM

The grounds of the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club are being prepared for the estimated 3,000 people who will be on hand Sunday for what could be considered the West Coast Super Bowl of polo. Players from across the globe will be competing in the Triple Crown of Polo Championship, referred to on the polo circuit as TCP.

Considered the highlight of the Santa Barbara season, the championship -- part of the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open -- caps the third leg of a three-tournament stretch, with the first two played in Dallas, Texas, and Sarasota, Fla.

And ESPN will be on hand to capture the action for TV viewers in a broadcast that will air Sept. 17 on ESPN2.

"This will be the first time the sport has ever received worldwide television distribution domestically and internationally," according to TCP President David McLane.

Added Sara Eakin, ESPN producer and former editor for the International Polo Review, "Although polo has been filmed in the past, it's really been intermittent because it's never been recognized as a mainstream sport."

Another first at the tournament will be the unveiling of the Tiffany and Co.-designed trophy, which will be on display in the TCP Pavilion at the east end of the field. The award is comprised of three separate trophies, one representing each TCP event. When combined, the pieces fit together to create an entire polo scene.

Along with the two matches, which will begin at 1 p.m., people are invited to come tailgate and enjoy music, food and drinks. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the V Foundation, which funds cancer research.

"This is one of the oldest established events and one of the nicest venues for polo," said Mr. McLane.

The tournament will kick off with music from a limited edition Elton John Signature Series Red piano, which will digitally mimic songs from the singer's Las Vegas show.

The post-game celebration will feature a 16-piece salsa orchestra, according to the TCP's Anjanette Stayton.

Ms. Eakin, a former polo correspondent for London's Daily Telegraph, said the tournament will catch the attention of more than just the usual polo fans.

"The TCP is taking the sport to a whole other level . . . it will bring more exposure to this sport to people who wouldn't normally watch it," she said.

Many of the world's top polo players will be at the event, with the majority coming from Argentina, where Ms. Eakin said polo is a hugely popular sport. Players from Canada, South Africa and Australia also will compete, bringing what Ms. Eakin said is "a truly international flavor to the event."

Also competing will be two of America's leading players, Nicolas Roldan and Jeff Hall, who won the U.S. Open in 2003.

The polo field is on Villa Real in Carpinteria. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. Admission is $15 for adults. Children under 12 are free.

e-mail: lorsua@newspress.com