Sportgate International

What Sportgate International does

Sportgate International is a London-based international event management and sports marketing agency that creates, owns, and delivers premium polo, lifestyle, and equestrian events for luxury brands, financial institutions, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. The company operates a portfolio of seven owned event brands including Chestertons Polo in the Park London (at Hurlingham Park, attracting 30,000 young professionals and a sell-out VIP audience), Chestertons Polo in the Park Dubai, Polo in the Port at Porto Montenegro, Polo at the Palace at Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, the Ritz Carlton Grand Tour, Gulf Concours at Burj Al Arab, and the recently launched Polo AlMarsa in Qatar. Beyond owned events, Sportgate provides event management, event consultancy, and specialized equestrian venue consultancy services to rights holders, venues, and property developers, most notably serving as technical advisor for the Wadi Safar Royal Diriyah Equestrian and Polo Club in Saudi Arabia.

The company monetizes through three primary revenue streams: event ownership and management (ticket sales, VIP hospitality packages, event operations), sponsorship sales and activation (corporate sponsorship packages to luxury brands and financial institutions), and advisory/consultancy fees for event design and equestrian venue planning. Premium positioning is reinforced by named sponsor relationships with Coutts Bank, Maserati, Chestertons (as naming sponsor), Vacheron Constantin, and Barclays Wealth, alongside exclusive venue partnerships with Hurlingham Park, Porto Montenegro (owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai), Emirates Palace, and Burj Al Arab. Pricing is bespoke and not publicly disclosed, with sponsorship and hospitality packages negotiated individually for corporate clients and VIP guests. The company operates three go-to-market motions: enterprise field sales to luxury brands and UHNW individuals, event-driven sponsorship acquisition through owned event platforms, and sales-led consultancy for equestrian venue planning.

In December 2025, Sportgate was acquired by 54 Group, the entity behind LIV Golf, as part of a strategy to modernize and expand polo events globally into the Middle East, Far East, and South America. The company operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees headquartered in London, under the leadership of Managing Director Rory Heron and Head of Operations Max Tipping. Geographic operations span the UK, UAE, Montenegro, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with further expansion planned under 54 Group ownership.

Name

Sportgate International

Legal name

Sportgate International

Website

https://sportgateint.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sportgate International is a London-based event management and sports marketing agency that creates, owns, and delivers premium polo, lifestyle, and equestrian events for luxury brands, financial institutions, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals across global markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Sports & Lifestyle Event Management

NAICS

Racetracks (711212), Spectator Sports (7112)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Racecourse Hospitality, Sponsorship & On-Track Experiences (MPAEADAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Training, Stables & Equine Services (MPAEADAI)

Keywords

• Polo event management
• Luxury event services
• Sports marketing agency
• Sponsorship activation
• Equestrian venue consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Event Ownership and Management: Sportgate International owns and operates a portfolio of premium polo and lifestyle events including Chestertons Polo in the Park London, Chestertons Polo in the Park Dubai, Polo in the Port, and others. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, VIP hospitality packages, and event operations.
2. Sponsorship Sales and Activation: The company sells sponsorship packages to luxury brands, financial institutions, and corporations seeking access to high-net-worth audiences at premium sporting events.
3. Event Consultancy Services: Advisory services for rights holders, venues, and brands covering sponsorship strategy, budgeting, catering, and event design. Includes technical equestrian venue consultancy for planning, design, and delivery of equestrian facilities.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sportgate International creates, owns, and delivers a portfolio of premium polo, equestrian, and luxury lifestyle events worldwide, including Chestertons Polo in the Park (London and Dubai), Polo in the Port, Polo at the Palace, Ritz Carlton Grand Tour, Gulf Concours, and Polo AlMarsa. In parallel, the company sells Event Management and Event Consultancy services to rights holders, brands, and venues, and provides specialist Equestrian Venue Consultancy for planning, design, and delivery of world-class equestrian facilities.

Product overview

Sportgate International is an international event management and sports marketing agency that creates, owns and delivers premium sport, lifestyle and equestrian events around the world. The company operates a portfolio of owned event brands including Chestertons Polo in the Park London (the flagship event at Hurlingham Park), Chestertons Polo in the Park Dubai, Polo in the Port (Porto Montenegro), Polo at the Palace (Abu Dhabi), Ritz Carlton Grand Tour, Gulf Concours, and Polo AlMarsa (Qatar). Beyond owned events, the company provides Event Management, Event Consultancy, and Equestrian Venue Consultancy services to brands, venues, rights holders and destinations, including technical advisory for the Wadi Safar Royal Diriyah Equestrian and Polo Club in Saudi Arabia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chestertons Polo in the Park London Premium annual polo lifestyle event hosted at Hurlingham Park in London, drawing 30,000 young professionals and a sell-out VIP audience; features an International Polo Test Match with the England National Team and serves as the UK summer-season launch event. Targeted at luxury brands, corporate sponsors, and HNW attendees.
• Chestertons Polo in the Park Dubai Invite-only polo event at Desert Palm Polo Club in Dubai, offering world-class polo with the Dubai skyline as backdrop and combining sport, luxury, and brand networking.
• Polo in the Port Premium polo event at Porto Montenegro (Bay of Kotor), playing host to superyacht owners, global travellers, and luxury brands at one of the world's most spectacular polo venues.
• Polo at the Palace Premium polo event held at Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, described as one of the most extraordinary polo venues in the world, hosting world-class brands and Middle Eastern royalty with Coutts Bank as primary sponsor.
• Ritz Carlton Grand Tour Four-day driving exploration of Ritz-Carlton Hotels across the UAE, delivered in partnership with Maserati, immersing guests in luxury brand experiences and showcasing vehicles to key clients and influencers.
• Gulf Concours Gathering of fifty of the world's rarest super cars and classic cars hosted on the private lawns of the Burj Al Arab, featuring luxury partners Vacheron Constantin and Barclays Wealth.
• Polo AlMarsa Qatar's first-ever waterfront polo and lifestyle event, set against Old Doha Port, delivering four championship cups and uniting 23 strategic partners in the inaugural edition.
• Equestrian Venue Consultancy Technical advisory services for equestrian property projects covering planning, design, and delivery of world-class equestrian facilities; includes operations planning, feasibility models, business development, procurement, and pre-opening preparation.
• Event Management Services End-to-end event management services helping rights holders deliver world-class events globally, including sponsorship, budgeting, marketing, and event management for the firm's owned portfolio.
• Event Consultancy Services Advisory services for rights holders creating and designing events, covering sponsorship, budgeting, and catering, delivered in close collaboration with polo federations to deliver world-class events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000 young professionals and sell-out VIP audience annually at flagship London event
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Diriyah Company (Wadi Safar Royal Equestrian and Polo Club)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSportgate serves as Equestrian and Polo technical advisors for Wadi Safar Royal Equestrian and Polo Club in Saudi Arabia, working directly for the Diriyah Company. Scope includes operations planning, feasibility models, pre-opening plans, business development, procurement, and facility design.
• Investment Corporation of Dubai (Porto Montenegro)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPorto Montenegro, owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, serves as the venue for Polo in the Port. This private superyacht village and marina in the Bay of Kotor provides what is described as the most spectacular polo venue in the world.
• Chestertons (Naming Sponsor)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerChestertons is the naming sponsor for Chestertons Polo in the Park events in both London and Dubai, providing brand association with the flagship polo event series.
• Maserati (Event Partner)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMaserati partnered with Marriott Hotels/Ritz-Carlton for the Ritz Carlton Grand Tour, showcasing their vehicles during this four-day driving exploration of UAE Ritz-Carlton properties with key clients and influencers.
• Coutts Bank (Primary Sponsor)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoutts Bank was the primary sponsor for Polo at the Palace event at Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, enabling client networking with Middle Eastern royalty and luxury brand audience.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wasserman: Sports marketing, events, and talent agency serving leagues, brands, and rights holders globally — comparable client base and event/sponsorship advisory scope.
• IMG (Endeavor): Global sports marketing and event management company that owns and operates premium sports properties (tennis, golf, fashion events) and sells sponsorship and hospitality to luxury and corporate clients — directly comparable business model to Sportgate's owned-event plus consultancy franchise.
• Octagon: Sports marketing consultancy that advises brands, rights holders, and venues on sponsorship strategy, event creation, and athlete endorsement — comparable to Sportgate's sponsorship sales and event consultancy service lines.
• Lagardère Sports: International sports marketing and event management group operating across sponsorship sales, event operations, and venue advisory — directly comparable to Sportgate's owned-events-plus-consultancy model.
• RSVP Events: Luxury and premium event management agency producing high-end brand experiences for HNW audiences and luxury sponsors — comparable premium positioning, hospitality revenue model, and corporate clientele.

Others

• Aspinall Foundation / Aspinall Clubs: UK-based premium hospitality, club, and event operator serving HNW audiences — adjacent comparator for high-end hospitality-driven event revenue models in the UK.
• Quintessentially Events: Luxury concierge and experiential events brand serving HNW individuals and luxury corporate clients — adjacent comparison for Sportgate's VIP hospitality packages and luxury audience access.

Broad incumbents

• CAA Sports (TKO Group): Sports marketing and advisory arm of a major talent agency, providing event consulting, sponsorship sales, and brand solutions to leagues and rights holders — broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities to Sportgate's event and sponsorship work.

Regional players

• Hurlingham Polo Association: UK governing body for polo that organizes and licenses polo events at member clubs including Hurlingham Park — directly comparable polo-specific event organizer operating in the same UK geography as Sportgate's flagship.

Emerging players

• La Martina: Polo lifestyle brand that sponsors and co-organizes polo tournaments and events globally — comparable niche polo-IP-plus-events business, though more brand-led than agency-led.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sportgate-international-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sportgate International