USPA Global has announced that U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), achieved a record-breaking $2.4 billion in global retail sales in 2023. The brand’s success can be attributed to its expansion strategy, which enabled it to increase its market share in mature markets like North America and Western Europe, while also experiencing remarkable growth in emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America, India, and the Middle East.
U.S. Polo Assn. has over 1,100 retail stores across 190 countries, including department stores, sporting goods channels, independent retailers, and e-commerce. As one of the largest global licensed sports brands in the world, U.S. Polo Assn. ranks in the top five alongside NFL, MLB, and NBA, according to License Global.
To maintain its success, U.S. Polo Assn. plans to expand its global fleet to over 1,500 stores in the coming years. The brand is targeting to become a billion-dollar business in India alone. In 2023, new and existing strategic stores worldwide were upgraded with a more elevated brand and sports concept, providing customers with an authentic experience.
U.S. Polo Assn. also experienced record growth in e-commerce, with around 50 brand sites in 20 languages in 2023. The brand continues to increase its digital presence and social media following, with over 8 million followers worldwide.
“Our global team and strategic partners around the world delivered another record financial performance in 2023 while also achieving many major milestones across our product lines and global expansion efforts,” noted J. Michael Prince, President & CEO of USPA Global. “We continue to execute our aggressive product, store, digital, and international growth strategies to further expand our global footprint in key cities and markets worldwide, while also increasing the overall interest in the sport of polo.”
Prince added, “Despite the many challenges over the past several years facing global retail, U.S. Polo Assn. was able to exceed our goal of $2 billion three years early and has set a target to hit $3 billion and 1,500 U.S. Polo Assn. stores in the near future.”
U.S. Polo Assn. has a strong connection to the sport of polo and has recently signed a landmark multi-year global deal with ESPN. The deal has given the sport exposure to a massive global audience, reaching millions of households and multiple digital channels. The iconic U.S. Open Polo Championship® is now broadcast by ESPN and has become one of the country’s most prestigious spring sporting events, sitting alongside The Masters and Kentucky Derby.
Furthermore, the USPA now owns the USPA National Polo Center (NPC), which is the sport’s premier destination in North America. The 2024 American High-Goal Polo Season has brought record crowds and sellout Sundays, with the best polo in the world from January to April. The NPC, located in beautiful Palm Beach County, Florida, spans 160 acres and includes multiple grass polo fields, fine dining, tennis courts, stadium seating, a swimming pool, and the NPC Retail Shop. Exciting updates to the world-class facility are planned for 2025.
“We continue to seek avenues and partnerships to expand into new global markets, as well as new and innovative areas of business. The combination of these factors, alongside our authentic connection to the sport of polo and outstanding global brand marketing, is the key to our global success,” Prince adds. “I am optimistic about the U.S. Polo Assn. global business maintaining its leadership position among its industry peers while gaining market share and our ability to reach over $3 billion in worldwide sales and 1,500 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores in the coming years.”
“Today, I am proud to say that our U.S. Polo Assn. global ecosystem is comprehensive of both the brand and the sport, with our $2.4 billion global sport-inspired brand, a global sports content platform with ESPN, and ownership of NPC, one of the sport’s most beautiful and prestigious venues,” concludes Prince.
