Stage is Set for US Open

Six teams have entered the final stage of the American Triple Crown. The U.S. Open will get underway on April 4^th and conclude with the finals on Sunday April 22^nd. Five of the teams just competed in the Gold Cup. Tonkawa has dropped out and will be replaced by a team sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., which is the retail company that supports the United States Polo Association. Ten goaler Juan Martin Nero along with Alejandro Astrada, Juancito Bollini and Grant Ganzi will power the new team

The defending champion is Valiente. They edged out Orchard Hill last year in overtime 13 to 12. This will be the final year for the Open to be played at 26 goals. The polo association will lower the handicap level next year to 22 goals in an effort to attract more teams. However, the entire scheme may have backfired since at least four of the teams playing in this years Open have already planned to ditch the USPA in favor of a new 26-goal league in 2019

 

The move casts major doubts on how relevant the USPA is in American high goal polo going forward. With unlimited resources they have not accomplished any success in growing the sport at the higher level and continue to mire the game with complicated rules and interpretations of the rules, which change yearly and sometimes even during the season. The USPA has spent millions of dollars in recent years to try and save the game but their efforts have been a major disappointment for several key patrons

 

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