LYNN – When Manning Field opened in the fall of 2006, it featured a beautiful new turf field and a top-notch track, but little else.The city brought in temporary stands and portable bathrooms, so the high schools and youth football teams could start enjoying the facility, but there was still plenty of work to be done. Contractors spent the last two years building the locker room/concession stand/press box building, as well as installing the permanent seating for 4,000 and a new parking area.On Monday, the city celebrated the completion of the $12 million project with an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony. Football players, soccer players and cheerleaders from Classical, English, Tech and St. Mary’s were on hand for the festivities, along with the Lynn Public Schools Band, the English High Junior ROTC and the many city officials and Manning Field Commission members who played a role in seeing the project through to its completion.All those who spoke, including Mayor Edward “Chip” Clancy, Manning Field Commission Chairman Kevin Coppinger, Superintendent of Schools Nicholas Kostan, City Council President J. Timothy Phelan, State Sen. Thomas M. McGee and former State Sen. Walter Boverini and Monsignor Paul V. Garrity, had a similar message.They spoke of how difficult a decision it was to tear down the old Manning Bowl, how controversial some of the decisions were that had to be made in the process, and how important it was to build a top-of-the line facility that would be the city’s new crown jewel, as Manning Bowl had been when it was built some 67 years ago.”We had to replace Manning Bowl with something that people will remember, and I think we did a good job,” Coppinger said.Coppinger said one of the keys to getting it right was in visiting as many similar facilities as possible and determining what worked and what didn’t work. He said it was also important to have input from those with different areas of expertise, whether it was football, track, lacrosse, soccer and even baseball people.”Everyone came from a little different angle,” he said.Clancy talked about how difficult it was deciding it was time for Manning Bowl to come down.”Everyone said the same thing. Manning Bowl was 67 years old. It was an icon, but it was falling apart. It was allowed to disintegrate. We were putting more and more into it. It was getting to be like me going to the hair transplant guy,” Clancy said. “Now Lynn has the best facility. Not a second-tier facility. Not a third-tier facility. We have the best.”In his ribbon-cutting remarks, Clancy said he’s been accused of not being a visionary, acknowledged that may be the case at times, but said the Manning Field Commission worked tirelessly making sure its vision was realized.City Council president Phelan said Clancy was a leader in getting the facility built and now the city had something great for the next several generations of children in Lynn.Manning Commission member John Kasian, a facilities manager in the city’s Office of Economic Development; Mike Donovan, director of inspectional services in the city; and Edward Calnan, the clerk of the works, were among those praised by city officials for helping bring the project to fruition.Kasian, who takes care of the day-to-day operations at the facility, said it was particularly gratifying seeing the 500-plus fall sport athletes, cheerleaders and band members taking part in the ceremony because they’re the ones who will be enjoying the new facility. He said it’s great to see their faces and those of the athletes from visiting schools when they see the field.Both Clancy and Kasian said the next step will be finding a way to ensure there is a funding source in place to ensure capital improvements can be made at the facility when needed so it doesn’t fall into disrepair. Kasian said that may include advertising or sponsorships.In addition to serving the Lynn high schools and youth sports groups, Kasian said he’s hoping to see more MIAA events at Mann