Nacho Figueras on St. Regis Partnership, Creating Polo Occasion, TV Present

Polo legend Nacho Figueras says the centuries-old horseback sport might lastly be poised for a mainstream breakthrough because of the current success of the World Cup.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at The St. Regis British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup within the UK final weekend, Figueras says the resounding buzz and fan engagement across the World Cup has him believing that polo might discover a related viewers.

“I think it’s been an incredible moment for sports in America,” he says, additionally citing the New York Knicks’ current NBA championship win. “People are learning to love sports events, especially when it’s very well put together, and polo, I think, has all the ingredients to be the next big thing.”

While Figueras appeared within the 2024 Prince Harry-produced Netflix documentary, Polo, the Argentine sporting icon says he’s engaged on his personal real-life venture to “bring polo to the cities.” Describing it as “Formula 1 meets Sail GP meets Padal [and] mixed with the Longines equestrian series,” the polo star says he envisions occasions that shall be “like the F1 version of polo,” full with a movie crew to seize the way it all comes collectively.

“The idea is to do a Drive to Survive-type thing, because I think that giving people access to our kitchen and the kitchens of the athletes, really helps you feel connected to the person on the horse,” he says. Plus, he provides, “Polo has horses, good looking men and women, athleticism and beautiful spots [where the matches take place]. What else could you want?”

Figueras was among the many VIP company taking within the Cowdray Gold Cup in West Sussex final weekend from the St. Regis tent. As the official “St. Regis Connoisseur,” the athlete and mannequin received to take pleasure in a uncommon day without work from the polo discipline, as a substitute watching the proceedings alongside stars like Andrew Scott, Gwendoline Christie, British designer Giles Deacon and author Jack Guinness, who all loved storied St. Regis rituals like a champagne sabrage, and sips of the model’s signature Bloody Mary (the tomato-based cocktail was stated to have originated within the U.S. on the King Cole Room contained in the St. Regis Hotel in New York in 1934).

Guests on the polo occasion additionally received a preview of the St. Regis London, anticipated to open within the metropolis’s Mayfair neighborhood this fall. Occupying the previous Westbury Hotel location on the intersection of Bond Street and Conduit Street, the brand new property will characteristic 193 visitor rooms impressed by its Savile Row and luxurious style home and public sale home environment. The property can even open with Le Perroquet, a French brasserie-style restaurant from acclaimed Chef Daniel Rose, finest recognized for La Bourse et La Vie in Paris and the Michelin-starred Le Coucou in New York.

“St. Regis is an old brand with heritage, with family values, and with an actual history and connection to polo,” Figueras says, noting that the lodge chain’s founding household, the Astors, had been a distinguished fixture at polo matches on New York’s Governors Island. “This event and this partnership just makes sense.”

The Gaston Polo Team, led by Chilean patron Jean Paul Luksic, was topped Cowdray Gold Cup champions after a nail-biting 9-8 victory over the beforehand unbeaten Dubai Polo Team. While Figueras was mum on who he was cheering for — explaining that he has mates and fellow Argentine gamers on each groups — he says the weekend occasion in England was additional proof that the game is prepared for a U.S. invasion. And along with his deliberate polo occasion collection and documentary, Figueras says he has one different concept he’d prefer to pitch.

“I feel very bullish about doing a scripted thing,” the memorable Gossip Girl visitor star says, noting that, “what Yellowstone did for Western was incredible. I would love to work with a guy like Taylor Sheridan, who is really one of the most incredible storytellers out there and who loves horses, and say, ‘Hey, I think that polo could be a perfect anchor for one of your amazing shows.”

“I also love Succession,” Figueras provides, “so I believe that this polo show could be the perfect marriage between Yellowstone and Succession.”

Has he been in contact with Sheridan?

“No, I don’t know him, so maybe this [article] will help,” the dashing polo star says together with his magazine-cover smile. “Taylor when you read this, please get in touch.”