FEI World Equestrian Games to be Held in U.S. For Second Time in History
Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina Selected to Host
FEI World Equestrian GamesTM from September 11 to 23, 2018 with 500,000 Ticketed Spectators
Tickets Now Available Online
Tryon, NC – January 3, 2018 – Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group, LLC (IEG), announces that in less than a year Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in North Carolina will host the world’s largest equestrian competition, the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG). Administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the Swiss-based worldwide governing body of equestrian sport, the Games will take place over 14 days and is the major international championship event for the eight core equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage and para-equestrian dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining.
As the largest attended equestrian event in the U.S. in 2018, WEG 2018 will generate over $400 million to North Carolina, with an estimated attendance of over 500,000 U.S. and international ticketed spectators over the two-week period. NBC Sports Group will televise all the action from WEG in September 2018, presenting more than 60 hours of coverage across NBC, NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA.
The WEG is held every four years, halfway between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. Equestrian enthusiasts from over 70 countries travel to WEG host cities every four years to cheer on international athletes from their native countries. The event has been held in an impressive list of major international cities, including: Stockholm, Sweden (1990); The Hague, Netherlands (1994); Rome, Italy (1998); Jerez de la Frontera, Spain (2002); Aachen, Germany (2006); Lexington, Kentucky (2010); and Normandy, France (2014). An important player in the region’s economic development, most recently the FEI WEG 2014 Normandy, France achieved a local economic impact of $400 million (€368 million) with an attendance of over 500,000 spectators.
“We are honored to be selected by the FEI to be the steward of the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018,” says Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group, LLC (IEG). “Next to the Olympic Games, the WEG is the most important event on the world equestrian calendar. We are confident that our partnership and our operating team will create a memorable experience for all involved with the ultimate goal of significantly elevating horse sport in the U.S. beyond the 27 million people who ride a horse at least once a year.”
Located across 1,600 green acres in Mill Spring and Tryon, NC, Tryon International Equestrian Center was founded in 2014 as a $125 million dollar investment and has quickly become one of the world’s premier equestrian lifestyle destinations, complete with 12 riding arenas, over 1,200 permanent stalls, a variety of onsite lodging, restaurants, shops and a year-round competition and events calendar. A new five-star, 200-room luxury boutique hotel is being built on-site for completion coming this fall.
“We are very pleased to have Tryon as the host of the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018,” FEI President Ingmar de Vos said. “Experience tells us that every minute counts in the preparation for the World Equestrian Games, and Tryon have brought together a solid and experienced team who are moving things forward swiftly. We are very impressed by the venue and the on-site facilities for our eight disciplines. We are looking forward to a fantastic celebration of top level sport as all the disciplines come together to crown their world champions at the Games.”
In addition to being Managing Partner of Tryon Equestrian Partners, Mark Bellissimo is also the managing partner and largest shareholder of Equestrian Sport Productions, an organization with more than 150 full-time staff and 1,000 part-time staff and is the largest show organizer in the U.S., operating more FEI competitions than any other event organizer in the world with 38 weeks of events through four venues in Florida, North Carolina, Colorado and New York. The Bellissimo family is also the owner and publisher of Chronicle of the Horse, a widely distributed horse sport magazine with over 8.3 million unique visitors annually. Together, Bellissimo and his partners have invested nearly $500 million in equestrian related assets and properties in Florida, North Carolina and Colorado.
The demand for tickets is already strong and has surpassed expectations at this early stage. Depending on the specific competition and event, ticket prices begin at $82 for an all session driving pass. All ticket sales are final, no refunds or exchanges.
For more information, please visit https://tryon2018.com. Follow WEG on social media @Tryon2018.
