U.S. Polo Assn. signed polo players Ashley Busch and Juan Bollini as global brand ambassadors. The sport-inspired U.S. Polo Assn. brand has a $1.5 billion global retail footprint and will highlight the ambassadors across 144 countries worldwide.
Managed by USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL), the exclusive licensing arm and marketer of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the brand DNA is built from the heritage and authenticity of the sport of polo. This is a key reason why the U.S. Polo Assn. brand has historically partnered with young professional polo players in marketing the sport and the brand. Busch and Bollini will be an integral part of the brand’s global advertising efforts geared toward millennial consumers.
These accomplished polo players have a passion for the U.S. Polo Assn. brand, having modeled in previous advertising campaigns. They have also partnered on the field by playing on several polo teams together. The pair was recently part of the winning Altair Polo team that captured the Grand Champions Cup in April 2017.
Busch, 27, was exposed to the sport of polo at an early age. She began riding horses at age 5 and hit the polo field at 11. She has played competitively all over the world, and her team has won several tournaments. Ashley is inspirational to many young women interested in the sport and enjoys spending time off the polo field with her husband, Kurt Busch, who is a professional NASCAR champion.
Polo is a way of life for Bollini, a 21-year-old who comes from a family of polo players. He took up the sport as a child in Argentina, where he played with his family and father, who also plays polo professionally. Juan has played professionally in many events and recently won his first big tournament in the prestigious high-goal East Coast Open.
“We are honored to have Ashley and Juan as part of the U.S. Polo Assn. family representing our great sport and brand globally,” commented chief operating officer, J. Michael Prince. “As our global brand ambassadors and competitive polo players, they are another amazing example of the authentic connection of our brand to the sport of polo that our consumers have come to love and appreciate all over the world.”
The U.S. Polo Assn. brand will feature Ashley and Juan through social media, traditional advertising and in 900 branded retail stores globally across 144 countries. The ambassadors will continue to be featured in the “Live Authentically” campaign as well as this year’s “Raise Your Game” digital campaign. They will also be featured in the World’s “Longest” Catwalk Fashion Show, produced by Phoenix Fashion Week. The fashion show will be held in conjunction with the 2017 Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships on November 11th. The event will draw crowds expected to exceed 10,000 including several thousand college students.
Photo courtesy U.S. Polo Assn.