The Broadmoor and Colorado Springs Sports Corporation have joined forces to create The Broadmoor 2023 Winter Polo Classic, which officially brings polo back to the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado for the first time since the late 1930s.
The event will take place at the Norris Penrose Event Center on February 25, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. featuring polo players from around the country, and a new package from the luxe Broadmoor resort, the longest-running Forbes Five Star property in the world, makes attending the event a stylish and seamless affair.
The Winter Polo Package includes:
Pricing starts at $778 and is available on a limited basis, as it is expected to sell out. More at
https://www.broadmoor.com/special-packages/winter-polo-package.
In addition to the event, guests of The Broadmoor can opt to indulge in other winter equestrian adventures, including horseback rides that provide a variety of mountain views, from deep forests to panoramic settings overlooking the Rocky Mountain region. One-hour rides, best for chilly winter days, are a fit for all riding abilities and include knowledgeable guides.
Back at The Broadmoor, guests can warm up and relax those riding muscles at the spa. In winter, guests particularly love the Oxygen Infusion: a cutting-edge treatment that delivers oxygen under hyperbaric pressure to infuse an active serum to the deeper layers of the skin. Other favorite indoor activities at the resort include taking in a movie at the resort’s own theater, bowling at the resort’s six-lane alley, or simply curling up with a good book by the fire in The Broadmoor’s Portales Library.
Winter Polo Classic attendees are instructed to be prepared for an “après-ski meets glamorous” vibe at the event, which means winter’s best fashion paired with (somewhat) sensible (and warm enough) shoes + outerwear. Should shopping be in order, The Broadmoor’s 19 specialty shops have an array of men’s and women’s clothing plus accessories to outfit any equestrian adventure or polo pony watching in style.
How Winter Polo at The Broadmoor Will Be Played
The Broadmoor’s winter polo will adhere to most of the standard, traditional polo regulations with the exception of the tournament taking place in a dirt arena instead of a grass field. Teams will be comprised of three players, as in typical arena polo. Play will consist of four 7-min chukkers (periods). In the event of snow, the tournament will follow snow polo regulations. The polo ponies will be shod with special cleated shoes to provide better traction for the winter conditions and a larger, lighter, and bright red ball will be used to better accommodate winter conditions. If snow is scarce, the horses will be shod for the arena dirt and a traditional white ball will be used for play.
The History of Polo at The Broadmoor/In Colorado
With a storied history dating back to the 1890s, polo has long been a sport of interest and glamour in Colorado, with The Broadmoor acting as a premier polo center in the early 1900s. The resort’s founder, Spencer Penrose, an active player in the polo community and high society, can be credited as being one of the first to bring polo to Colorado.
With growing interest and popularity in the sport, Penrose installed four polo fields and stables for over 400 horses on the expansive Broadmoor campus. He also famously groomed a Broadmoor gentlemen's polo team and sent the team East for national competitions. And as interest and attention for outdoor sports continued to grow, local enthusiasts organized “The Broadmoor Polo Association” along with “The Penrose Polo Park.”
The interest in polo eventually declined in the thirties due to the Depression and sunk even further during World War II. The Broadmoor polo auditorium was eventually converted into an indoor ice arena for figure skating which saw its own success.
Today, there are three registered polo clubs in Colorado: Denver Polo Club, Aspen Valley Polo Club, and Colorado State University Polo Club, and beginning February 2023, The Broadmoor will again join the active polo scene with its new offering of winter polo. Note that the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship will take place in Colorado in Aspen December 18-21, 2022, meaning there is ample chance to experience winter polo in Colorado this season.
