Newport Polo Club Manager: Pavilion Will Be Rebuilt

, co-owner and general manager of the Newport Polo Club, said the polo pavilion that was destroyed by fire on Thursday will be rebuilt.

"We will do whatever we can to replace the pavilion," Keating said. "There might be a temporary replacement in the meantime."

Keating said she did not know the cost to rebuild at this time.

A leveled the wooden polo pavilion early Thursday morning at Glen Farm. The fire remains under investigation by police and the Rhode Island Fire Marshal's Office.

The pavilion was constructed less than a year ago on Linden Lane, just past the at . The 100 by 40 foot wooden, open structure offered private seating and housed the attached , which was also leveled in the fire. 

The pavilion opened late last summer and would have reopened for Newport International Polo Series' 20th season this Saturday.

However, the pavilion only housed a small percentage of polo fans, according to Keating. The pavilion contained "one percent of our seating capacity," she said. "There is still seating available around the grounds."

The Newport Rotary Club's charity match will still be held this Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. at the polo fields.

Since admission to the charity match was set at a flat rate of $10, no refunds will be required. During the regular polo season, pavilion seating typically costs slightly more at $15 per person.

Organizers of Newport Polo will work to set up a private enclosure and maybe a tent for this Saturday's match. There will still be plenty of space for seating and tailgating around the polo field, Keating said.

Hosted by the Newport Polo Club, the charity match features the home team, Newport, playing against a regional challenger in a classic 6-chukker dual. All sale proceeds of the day will support the Newport Rotary’s scholarship and charitable programs, and local and international giving programs.

The Newport International Polo Series will officially open its 20th season on the following Saturday, June 4, at 5 p.m. and will run continuously every Saturday through the rest of the summer, with an international line-up that includes Egypt, Scotland, the debut of Kenya in July, followed by teams from Ireland, Chile, Jamaica, and England and another debut, Brazil, as well as rivals from the Northeast.

For more information about the Newport International Polo Series, visit their Web site here.