OAK BROOK, IL (May 16, 2022) – It’s a year of celebration for the Oak Brook Polo Club (OBPC) who is proud to announce its 2022 summer schedule, a new field location, the launch of ticket sales on June 1st and the club’s 100th Anniversary! The Cecil Smith Field will mark Oak Brook’s centennial season of polo in addition to being one of the nation’s oldest polo clubs in operation today and the fourth oldest sports property in Chicago. On select Sundays, from June 26th –September 25th, fans can expect to experience adrenaline-fueled matches between some of the sport’s top players from local neighboring teams as well as from abroad.
Located at Butler National Golf Club’s practice golf range (at 700 Oak Brook Road), the Cecil Smith Field is widely known in the sport of polo as an historic and beautiful space located just 17 miles from downtown Chicago. It was referred to as a “masterpiece” by Oak Brook Polo founder and visionary Paul Butler in a 1962 Sports Illustrated article and embodies the Village of Oak Brook’s long and storied advocacy for sport and outdoor recreation, while being one of the nation’s best residential, commercial and entertainment destinations.
“Oak Brook Polo is undeniably the best secret of Chicago’s western suburbs and the Churchill Downs of polo,” explains Jim Drury, President of the Oak Brook Polo Club. “Oak Brook Polo gives people the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while watching a thrilling sport with friends and family. We are excited to continue to offer spectators a safe and fun activity. It is our mission to make our matches accessible, affordable, and memorable for everyone who attends, and to reestablish Oak Brook as Chicago’s home for the sport of polo.”
Oak Brook Polo was privatized from the Village of Oak Brook in 2016 and is led and supported by Drury whose passion and ongoing commitment to polo is what’s kept the sport alive in Chicagoland for so long. With many iterations over the years, the first season dates back to 1922 when Butler first established the Oak Brook Polo Club. He expanded his polo operation to fourteen fields, plus built the necessary horse stables to serve visiting teams. Eventually, Oak Brook became one of the “polo capitals” of the world with Butler’s son – famed producer Michael Butler, and daughter -philanthropist Jorie Butler Kent, acting as the club’s stewards throughout the years. The summer polo seasons were not only the stomping ground for celebrities and notables alike for decades but also the destination for American Polo players and enthusiasts. Oak Brook was often referred to as “the town that polo built.”
Oak Brook’s team, led by Drury (position #4, handicap A) includes Tommy Colingwoode (position #3, handicap-5), Horacio Onetto (position #2, handicap-4), and Herdon Radcliff(position #1, handicap-3).
Oak Brook Polo’s 2022 summer schedule includes the following dates:
- Sunday, June 26th – Centennial Challenge (Season Opener)
- Sunday, July 17th – Chicago Polo Invitational (Intra Circuit Cup)
- Sunday, July 24th – General George S. Patton Jr. Cup
- Sunday, July 31st – General George S. Patton Jr. Cup Championship
- Sunday, August 14th – Midwest $50,000 Midwest Cup
- Sunday, August 21st – Oak Brook Polo Open*
- Sunday, August 28th – Oak Brook Polo Open*
- Sunday, September 11th – Butler Challenge/Coronation Cup
- Sunday, September 18th – Butler International Cup
- Sunday, September 25th – Butler International Cup Championship
*matches and tournament names are subject to change
New and returning sponsors include U.S. Polo Assn., Heineken, Beyond Shades, NeverAsh, Continental AutoSports, Northern Trust, One Oak Brook Commons, Hilton Chicago | Oak Brook Hills Resort, Tapville Social, Boodles Gin, and 1800 Tequila. Matches will include team “meet and greets,” team parade with introduction, National Anthem singer, and contests for both “best tailgate” and “best hat.” In addition, Oak Brook Polo Club will host a Centennial Celebration Gala on Friday, September 23, 2022, at Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort.
“Jim Drury (Pineoak Partners) have done a tremendous job preserving the legacy of polo in Oak Brook,” explains Gopal Lalmalani, Village of Oak Brook President. “Polo is such significant part of our history, and we are very excited to be celebrating 100 years of this illustrious sport in our Village. I would like to personally invite everyone to experience the grandeur and excitement of Polo in Oak Brook during this commemorative season!”
Oak Brook Polo Club ticket sales will begin on Wednesday, June 1st and will include a variety of ticket options starting at $15/pp and include lawn seating; tailgating, VIP Saddle Club (elevated), and reserved field-side tables for 4 to 6 people. For groups of 20 or more, the Club offers small and large private field-side tented areas ideal for large families, corporate outings, birthday parties and other special events. For more information, including sponsorships, please visit www.oakbrookpoloclub.com or call 847.653. 6242 for details and availability. Ticket prices for special events may differ from traditional pricing. Subscribe to the e-bulletin for season updates and announcements or follow at Facebook -@oakbrookpoloclub or Instagram – @oakbrookpolo.
About Oak Brook Polo Club
Founded in 1922 by legendary businessman, Paul Butler, the Oak Brook Polo Club is an American Polo treasure and one of the oldest polo clubs in the United States. It was once the sport’s epicenter for elite professional polo in the United States and served as home to the U.S. Open Polo Championship for twenty-four straight seasons and other prestigious international and national polo tournaments. For decades, the Club has been a popular Sunday tradition and social scene known for entertaining Hollywood celebrities, dignitaries, royalty, and Chicago’s distinguished. Today, Oak Brook Polo Club hosts several Sunday matches and continues to attract thousands of fascinated spectators who marvel at the athleticism and majesty of this timeless sport.
