Anyone seeking a polo fix this weekend need not head into Auckland's countryside.
Just two years in, and New Zealand event Urban Polo is going international.
Founded by the former executive director of the New Zealand Polo Open Simon Wilson, Heineken Urban Polo launched in Auckland and Wellington last year with 3500 people at each event.
Traditionally played in the countryside, the sportwas brought to the city centre last year with one event held in Wellington at Galloway Park and the other at Auckland's Shore Road Reserve in Parnell.
Bringing the game into the city was aimed at getting the crowd closer to the action and more involved with the event Wilson said.
After selling out both venues, Christchurch and Hamilton have been added to the circuit this year and Wilson has ambitious plans for its expansion.
"This thing is building fast. We have big plans for Urban Polo, we are definitely going to take this abroad," he said.
"There's a lot of interest globally so people have really picked up on this. Everyone has been looking for a way to make Polo accessible - because it is still high end, but bringing it into town means it's open to a lot more people."
"The four locations are all right in the city so you can walk to town afterwards, it's really convenient."
Wilson said he was looking at Asia as the first international destination, but said he had a few conversations on the go.
"We just want to nail this year in New Zealand and then once we have that in the bag, we're away."
The team were also considering extending the event to a three-day session with a family day on Sunday and a dinner or cocktail event on the Friday night.
Heineken spokesperson Simon Smith said the focus on sport and music meant the polo was a good fit for Heineken, which has been the naming sponsor in both years.
Heineken Urban Polo. Photo/Libby Law-Photosport
"We're really excited that the Urban Polo team is exploring other countries on the back of the success here.
"It makes us proud to have had a part in building something like this for [Simon] and the team," Smith said.
"The amount of interest has been overwhelming so having two sold-out events last year was great and extending it to two other urban centres - Christchurch and Hamilton - was a really good move and it's just been an overwhelming success so far."
The success of the event has also seen a number of other significant international brands come on board, including Haagen-Dazs, Glenfiddich and Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus.
