Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
International polo star Nic Roldan will take his skills, speed and star power to the field at the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships Saturday, Oct. 26th at WestWorld of Scottsdale.
Mr. Roldan, an eight-goal, Argentine professional polo player, will lead the Aspen Valley Polo Team in the most anticipated match-up of the event at WestWorld of Scottsdale. Last year, Mr. Roldan and his teammates took home top honors at America’s most-attended polo event.
Joining Mr. Roldan is Melissa and Grant Ganzi, who together are taking the field against Argentine six-goal player Manuel Crespo and his teammates, Vladimir Rivkin and Jared Sheldon, in the Napa Valley Polo Team’s first Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships appearance.
“Nic’s a favorite face around the Polo Party, and fans should prepare themselves for a heck of a showdown when we take on Napa Valley,” said Melissa Ganzi. “The energy, excitement and intensity of this match will make it one of the most memorable moments in Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships history.”
Mr. Roldan first burst onto the American polo scene at age 15, when he became the youngest player ever to walk away with a win at the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
A fourth-generation polo player, Mr. Roldan amassed a lengthy list of victories in matches across all five continents, scoring multiple MVP nods and coveted wins at the Copa Camara de Diputados in Argentina and the Cartier Queen’s Cup in Europe.
Mr. Roldan has co-founded Sunset Polo International alongside his Aspen Valley Polo teammates, Melissa and Grant Ganzi whereas as the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization has a mission dedicated to improving child welfare and works to enhance accessibility and educate the public about the sport of polo.
“The crowd in Scottsdale is second to none – the energy is always high and the atmosphere is electric,” Mr. Roldan said, of his multiple appearances at the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. “I love coming here, not just for the competition, but to be around so many people who have embraced the sport and the lifestyle that surrounds it.”
Roldan and the Aspen Valley Polo Team’s face-off against the Napa Valley Polo Team and will be one of five matchups taking place during the Championships, with this year’s signature match also featuring special guests from the gridiron.
Electrifying running back Cam Skattebo and Sun Devils Head Coach Kenny Dillingham will perform the ceremonial ball drop ahead of the match. ASU boasts a winning five-to-one record this season under Dillingham’s leadership, with the head coach earning recognition as the brilliant and positive force behind the team’s success.
For the first time ever, this year’s Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships will also feature Night Polo matches, a new “Polo After Dark” element and an elegant Dinner Under the Stars planned in partnership with the city of Scottsdale. Guests can also look forward to fashion shows, luxury car and brand experiences, VIP tent opportunities and appearances by DJ Jai Wolf, internationally acclaimed tenor and opera singer James Valenti and other top musical talent.
