LYNN – Build it and they will come.When Manning Field officially opened for business in September of 2008, those involved with seeing the project through envisioned the facility being used for more than just local high school games. They hoped to bring in some of the state tournament soccer games that are played at neutral sites starting in the semifinal round and some of the football play-off games.?I think we all thought we would host more than just our local games,” Agganis Complex facilities manager John Kasian said. “I think we probably exceeded our expectations with all the play-off games we’ve had for football and soccer.”Just how busy is Manning Field these days?Between last night and next Wednesday, the facility will serve as host to 22 state tournament soccer games including all eight North finals, the majority of the North semifinals, and two sets of Eastern Mass. finals (Divisions 1 and 4).?Soccer has grown here every single year since we opened the stadium (completely) in 2008,” Kasian said. “Every year we get more and more (games). It’s become the place to have MIAA soccer. We’ve watched the crowds grow with it.”Kasian said Manning is an attractive venue for a number of reasons including the fact it seats 4,000 people.?It’s comfortable for large crowds,” Kasian said, noting that filling one side of the stands, with about 2000 fans, is a really good turnout for soccer.Some Manning?s amenities make it a desirable venue for big crowds including the bathroom facilities, parking, concession stand, locker rooms, press box, additional staffing needed for tournament games, and availability of the adjacent Fraser Field outfield for warm-ups.?All that stuff works and works well,” Kasian said.One of the more recent improvements to the facility involves the parking area behind Fraser?s left field. The area is now lit and paved, with curbing configured to allow for buses to get in and out easily. Adequate bus parking is important when you have back-to-back games and the accompanying four buses that are there for the game in progress and the one on deck.?We tailored the lot to dovetail into the whole facility. It was a nice add on,” Kasian said. “We’ve been pecking away at it.”St. Mary’s athletic director Jeff Newhall is the North tournament director for both boys and girls soccer.?When you get to the sectional semifinal round and beyond, you’re looking for the best site for games to be played at so it’s a memorable experience for the players, the coaches, the fans, and the media,” he said.Newhall said he would like to see — and maybe it’s getting to the point — soccer teams set their season-long goal to get to Manning Field — as it has been with Lowell?s Tsongas Center for basketball and LeLacheur Park for baseball.Newhall said the high school soccer tournament “season” really runs about 20 days, from the time the teams learn their seedings until a state champion is crowned.?Being able to have access to a facility like this makes it easier,” Newhall said.Kasian also sees the proliferation of tournament soccer games at Manning as a positive for the city and a benefit economically.?It’s our opportunity to use our athletic facilities to show off Lynn,” Kasian said. “It’s also a way for the stadium to become a little more of an economic engine for the city and the area.”Kasian said before and after games players and fans might opt to get something to eat at one of the fast food establishments or at sit down restaurant, buy coffee, get gas, or shop in a retail store.Last night two local girls? soccer teams, Swampscott and Lynnfield, played Division 3 North semifinal games at Manning Field. Swampscott lost to North Reading, while Lynnfield defeated Triton, setting up a Lynnfield-North Reading Division 3 matchup Saturday at 2 p.m. at Manning Field.Manning will be hopping today with the four Division 1 North semifinal games — two girls?, two boys? — beginning at 11 a.m. with the Central Catholic and Lincoln-Sudbury girls. St