Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Wellington Equestrian Partners, announced today, March 17, that he has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Wellington’s world-renowned International Polo Club in Florida. The purchase includes the core IPC club facilities and surrounding properties, totaling 248 acres. The transaction will close in late April. 

Wellington Equestrian Partners owns the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, one of the world’s preeminent hunter/jumper and dressage competition venues.

“We are honored to have been selected by the Goodman family trust to steward this venue into what will now be a very bright future. We thank them for their faith in our organization,” Bellissimo said. “With the shroud of uncertainty that has plagued the venue and the event, our partnership wanted to ensure that IPC was going to be protected as a long-term venue for polo and other equestrian sports, which is key to Wellington’s economy.”

Bellissimo has already initiated discussions with the U.S. Polo Association and key stakeholders in the polo community to forge a strategy of cooperation and collaboration to ensure that Wellington and IPC remain as the premier destination for spring, fall and winter polo in the nation. 

Chairman Joe Meyer of the USPA commented, “As the governing body of the sport of polo, it is always our mission to create a great experience for our clubs, teams, horses, members, and fans of the game. In doing so, we look forward to continuing our relationship with the International Polo Club to showcase thrilling high goal polo competition through the 2018 season and beyond.”

The sport of polo is a core foundation for the character, charm and tradition of Wellington as a world-renowned equestrian destination, getting its start in the community in the 1970s. According to the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Wellington’s combined equestrian events generate over $200 million in annual economic impact and over 150,000 room nights.  

This key acquisition will allow WEP to consolidate Wellington’s primary equestrian venues and develop a unique market offering centered around equestrian lifestyle and the love of horses.   

“We have demonstrated at PBIEC that by creating and promoting high-level equestrian sport in venues that are both entertaining and family-friendly, you can create a level of success for both spectators and sponsors,” Bellissimo said. “WEP, whose Winter Equestrian Festival has over 100 sponsors, intends to bring the same energy and vision to IPC and will create an international marketing effort that will cross-promote the events for the mutual benefit of Polo, Wellington, Palm Beach County and all of equestrian sport. The IPC venue, together with Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s jumper and dressage venues, will provide a third venue to enhance Wellington’s equestrian sport offerings.

“We are now positioned to achieve a new level of prominence and excellence for the competitor and visitor experience at all of our venues. This allows us to establish and showcase Wellington as the world destination for polo, show jumping and dressage. We will present a vision for the venue and the facility soon,” he added.

The International Polo Club.  The International Polo Club Palm Beach is the premier polo destination in the world, hosting the largest field of high-goal teams and the most prestigious polo tournaments in the United States. Polo enthusiasts descend upon Wellington, Fla., each winter season to enjoy their love of the sport in the most prominent and well‐equipped polo facility. The 2016 Palm Beach Polo Season runs from January through March and concludes with the USPA U.S. Open Polo Championship®. Polo matches are open to the public, with a wide range of hospitality and guest seating that includes elegant grandstand viewing, field tailgating, stadium seating, field-side champagne brunch at The Pavilion, and exclusive sponsor boxes.

Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is considered the most recognizable equestrian sporting venue in the United States today. It encompasses a total of 500 acres, and the competition rings alone cover over 80 acres. PBIEC has two core facilities—the Main Grounds and The Stadium—containing over 18 competition arenas, including one derby field and the largest covered riding surface in the world. Both show grounds are operated by Equestrian Sport Productions LLC and host the world-famous Winter Equestrian Festival and the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival, which are held over 12 weeks in January through March. Equestrian Sport Productions owns and operates 42 weeks of U.S. Equestrian Federation-rated horse shows from September through June at PBIEC in Wellington, Florida. 

For more information, contact Jennifer Wood at jennifer@jenniferwoodmedia.com