Since 2019, our high-flying friends at Turkish Airlines have been jet-setting one lucky Newport Polo fan straight to their dream destination with the annual Grand Prize Drawing at the Turkish Airlines Finals. This globetrotter’s gift celebrates our Series’ international flair, offering round-trip, business-class tickets for two to any far-flung locale Turkish Airlines touches down in—and no airline lands in more world-class spots! From five-star cuisine to award-winning Turkish hospitality, every mile is a moment to savor.

Each year, this sky-high prize is revealed in a grand finale ceremony, right after the final chukker. This season, Alper Gurses, Turkish Airlines Marketing Maestro, joined forces with Deniz Buyukdamgaci from the Istanbul HQ and Murat Letem, Turkish Consul General in Boston. They raised a toast to this year’s standout players, announced the 18 weekly Door Prize winners, and then unveiled the Grand Prize champion—a lucky Ohioan from June 10th's match. Cheers rose with a Goslings toast, and guests capped off the season with gusto in the Modern Luxury Lounge.

Since its jet-set debut in 2019, this Grand Prize tradition has earned its wings in Newport Polo’s history. Each match offers attendees a chance to enter at the Pro Shop, where weekly winners are picked at the 5th chukker. The lucky ones snag Finals tickets for a shot at the ultimate global getaway—bon voyage!

In the inaugural year, the lucky winner was a women from Mattapoisett, MA who had attended a match in September of that year. She reports that "My husband and I took the trip of a lifetime to Greece. The airline was one of my favorite parts! We felt so spoiled traveling in business class - eating all of the incredible food and being pampered. We flew to Athens and were able to visit Crete and Santorini as well. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Turkish Airlines and Newport Polo, as we made memories that will last our lifetime. Thank you!"

After the pandemic, the Grand Prize Drawing resumed in 2021, when a lucky Narragansett, RI man won the prize, which had been increased to 4 tickets, and it took nearly a month to track him down in our final attempts! We are still awaiting details of his final destination, but his initial bucket list included Australia, Germany, Sweden, Finland and the Virgin Islands.

In 2022, it was our winning-est winner, a fan from Cranston, RI - who also won the Jamaican Getaway Door Prize at his first ever polo match that year - couldn't believe his good fortune! His 10 day Greek island cruise was accentuated by Turkish Airlines premium lie flat seats, exceptional onboard meals, and business lounge in the Istanbul airport (complete with more food and a room to sleep/nap in)! "That’s the only way to fly to Europe! This was an incredible trip and we cannot thank you enough for making it happen!"

In 2023 we clearlysaw how far our reach is, when a man from Columbus, OH who won the Door Prize in June became our 4th Grand Prize winner! Getting over the shock of winning, he tells us "I am thinking maybe Europe...where I've never been...possibly next summer for a Formula 1 race", but is still deciding on his destination, given that sky is the limit!

 

As Sir Winston Churchill profoundly analogized, “a polo handicap is a passport to the world.” And now Turkish Airlines has extended that courtesy to include our fans!  Every time you attend a Newport International Polo Series match, make sure you get your door prize entry form at the gate when you arrive.  Then, fill it out completely, and turn it in at the Pro Shop by the end of half-time.  That's it!  Only 1 entry is given per adult, and duplicates are disqualiifed.  All qualified entries on game day will have a chance at winning the door prize on that day, from Veuve Clicquot or other valuable prizes.  Then, the winning entries from each week will be added to the barrel for the Grand Prize drawing which will take place at the Turkish Airlines Finals, which is typically the last match of the season.  Entrants must be 21 years of age or older; proof of age may be required.  See the detailed terms & conditions.  Bon chance!