The Barcelona Polo Club renews itself to boost 'fitness' and not be left behind

With more than 125 years of history, the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona has had to catch up. Traditionally known for sports such as polo, equestrianism, hockey, tennis, and padel, the private sports entity has had to adapt to a very popular trend that has emerged since its last renovation, more than 30 years ago, coinciding with the Olympic Games, when it hosted equestrian events such as dressage and show jumping. More and more members were asking for spaces for fitness activities, that is, a gym with machines, but also guided classes for strength, zumba, or cycling; there are even crosfitters among its members. Previously, a small space had been enabled that has ended up being insufficient. It was located on the ground floor of the equestrian grandstand, a building that has been completely rehabilitated to adapt to the new times.

With an investment of 13 million euros, the works began in October 2022 and have lasted a little longer than expected, combining them with the Official International Show Jumping Competition (CSIO) and elections that have chosen businessman Pablo Sánchez as the new president. This Wednesday, the renovated equestrian grandstand opened its doors, with its 9,000 square meters completely transformed by the architecture firm Batlleiroig, with one of its founders, Enric Batlle, being a member of the club.

The building is now divided into three floors, with 750 square meters dedicated to fitness. At the entrance of the ground floor, the new concierge desk is located ---in the old one, a sports equipment store with an external operator will be set up---, in addition to the guided activity classes ---strength, cardio, and cyclo--- and the entity's first 25-meter indoor pool, to which a 15-meter one is added, improving the current offer, with two smaller outdoor pools, one of which is only open in summer. On that floor, where the press room for following the competitions it hosts was also previously located, a high-performance gym has been set up, designed for professional athletes and competition teams. On the first floor is the gym, to which a mezzanine with more machines has been added. In total, it is estimated to have a capacity for 1,000 members.

In the attic, a 400-square-meter event room has also been set up, with a capacity for 400 seated diners and 700 people standing. This space has been designed to be rented for corporate events ---no need to be a member---, but also weddings ---for members only---. Until today, they were mainly held in the club's restaurants and in the Centenario Hall, right next to one of the outdoor pools, with plans to renovate it soon because, as its name indicates, it was inaugurated for the club's 100th anniversary ---1997--- and has become outdated. It is contemplated to demolish it to expand it, in addition to making a children's space there.

With a staff of 330 employees, the Polo Club earned 34 million euros in 2023. Half comes from the payment of fees from its 11,400 members and the other half from what subscribers pay for contracting complementary services, such as guided classes or meals in the restaurant. The standard fee is 150 euros per month for adults, a figure to which, for example, about 50 euros per month can be added to attend guided classes. The sports entity's income also comes from sponsorships and sports training activities for young people and children in the club's five historical disciplines, with padel being the last one to be incorporated, in the 90s.

Currently, registrations to join the Polo Club are closed. The decision was made in September 2022 and is not expected to change in the short term, according to Sánchez. "We are many and financial sustainability is very good, now we want members to enjoy the club," defends its president. When registrations were open, new members paid an entrance fee ---non-refundable--- of 35,000 euros, in the case of those who entered without being related to any member, while spouses contributed about 5,500 euros. Between these two figures, other degrees of kinship moved, such as cousins or uncles, with a payment of 15,000 euros. Children of members had to pay less than 5,500 euros.

Lack of parking spaces

After completing the biggest renovation it has undertaken since 1992, the club has set a new goal: to expand the parking spaces it has available. It is in talks with Meliá, the new manager of the former Juan Carlos I hotel, now Torre Melina, and the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya. The sports entity wants to have a direct connection with the convention center's parking lot, seeing that its current capacity for the cars its members drive is at its limit. Previously, the Polo had an agreement with Fairmont, the chain that managed the Juan Carlos I hotel, so that its members could access its pool, in addition to being the ones who managed its fitness and wellness areas, which its members could also access. With Meliá, the agreement has not been renewed.