The 2024 World Polo League Beach Polo World Cup has arrived, with competition underway on a specially designed stretch of beach between 21st and 22nd Streets on Collins Avenue. Eight international teams are showcasing their skills in this competition.
Local polo aficionado and player Melissa Ganzi, doubling up as president and owner of the Grand Champions Polo Club, has worked to ensure that the sandy arena is up to snuff. "This is proper footing; it’s not the beach sand," she explained in a statement to WSVN. Special show-jumping materials have been imported to provide the horses with a secure footing, ensuring both a spectacular experience for spectators and safety for the athletes, both riders and horses.
For Ganzi, the event is a family affair as well. "I’m really excited about playing in this event," she said, according to a WSVN interview. "I play Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and I play against my son! So that’s always a challenge." Spectators have the option of grabbing VIP tickets starting at $75, although the event is also accessible to those preferring to enjoy the competition from the comfort of the adjacent sand.
With increased traffic expected due to the allure of the competition, the event organizers have issued a travel advisory. A post from the Florida Department of Transportation's #FL511 service advises attendees to plan their travel around the event, "With the World Polo League Beach Polo World Cup happening at Collins Park on Miami Beach this weekend, there may be more motorists on the road in the area." Hence, attendees and beach-goers alike should utilize the service to travel safely and efficiently around this event.
With the World Polo League Beach Polo World Cup happening at Collins Park on Miami Beach this weekend, there may be more motorists on the road in the area. Be sure to use #FL511 to travel safely and efficiently around this event. #ConnectKnowGo#miamipolo pic.twitter.com/xXzqWjDCBS
— FL511 I-95 (@fl511_i95) November 14, 2024
Completing the first round of games yesterday, the action is slated to continue until Sunday, starting at 2:30 p.m. daily. With the Atlantic Ocean serving as a picturesque backdrop, attendees like Todd Flemming are immersed in the excitement."It’s been fun to watch and get a better sense of what the sport is all about," he told WSVN. "I encourage everybody to come out because I think you’ll be very surprised with the activity and the action that you see.”
