Pop-up polo will draw big crowds to the Bundaberg Region when a new Events Queensland initiative is held at Kendalls Road in August.
Bundaberg Regional Council made final approvals to the Pop-Up Polo event application in today’s general meeting.
Organised by Events Queensland, directors Matt Turich, Peter Hawkins and Benito Zussino will be bringing the popular spectator sport to the region following their first successful Pop-Up Polo in Rockhampton last year.
The two-day event features a cocktail launch party followed by a polo match with professional players from around Queensland travelling to Bundaberg to compete.
The event will be held on the weekend of 30 August.
Sport and Recreation portfolio spokesperson Cr Helen Blackburn said Pop-Up Polo would be one to mark on the calendar.
“This is a very unique event for Bundaberg and is one that will be sure to draw in the crowds,” Cr Blackburn said.
“The polo match will be ticketed with over 1500 people expected to attend.”
Flow-on benefits to the region
Cr Blackburn said the event would provide flow-on economic benefits, as seen by the success of Event Queensland’s first polo tournament last year.
“The first event, held in Rockhampton, attracted a sell-out crowd of more than 1900 people,” Cr Blackburn said.
“It attracted 520 guests from outside the Rockhampton local government area and we strongly believe that is of great value to the community.”
Cr Blackburn said the event would also provide an opportunity to promote the region, with a professionally marketed video included in the event application.
“The Events Queensland team carry out extensive filming in the region in the lead-up to the event for promotion and content creation,” she said.
“The footage from last year’s event is truly fantastic and highlights the many great aspects of the sport, and the positivity it brings to the town.
“We are very much looking forward to the opportunities that come with Pop-Up Polo.”
Cr Blackburn said the event had secured financial support from Bundaberg Regional Council, including in-kind assistance such as supply waste disposal and field preparation.
Event organisers excited about Bundaberg
The directors of Events Queensland have a passion for regional Queensland.
Matt Turich, Peter Hawkins and Benito Zussino have chartered themselves with delivering large-scale, bespoke, aspirational events in regional Queensland destinations that, until now, have been reserved for metropolitan audiences.
“Bundaberg is a city with rich history and diversity, which with a multi-faceted economy and scale makes it the perfect place to host an event of this calibre,” Mr Turich said.
“The benefits of this event being delivered in Bundaberg are potentially enormous and include direct economic stimulation through hospitality, accommodation, retail and tourism.”
What you can expect
Mr Turich said the event featured a Cocktail Event Launch on the Friday evening where team shirts are presented and guests have the opportunity to mingle with the players in an intimate setting over canapés, fine wines and live music.
“Our menu is to be carefully curated by our executive chef and will be inspired by the plethora of locally grown produce farmed in the Bundaberg Region,” he said.
On Saturday, polo will be on show across six adrenaline packed Chukkas.
“There will be 8-10 players involved with the view to providing the opportunity for engagement,” he said.
“The polo guests will have on offer a number of events including divot stomps, men's and women's dash, fashions on the field and Car V’s Pony race.”
The Pop-Up Polo cocktail launch party is scheduled to be held on Friday, 30 August followed by the polo event on Saturday, 31 August 2019.
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