Fairhope’s city officials said the city’s new municipal soccer complex should be open before the October Halloween Blast Tournament, despite some delays and issues with funding. During the July 25 council work session, Council President Jack Burrell told other officials the Fairhope Youth Soccer League had pledged to raise additional funds between $80,000 and $100,000 that could be used to purchase needed equipment like bleachers, goals and other necessities. Burrell also said the Fairhope Single Tax Colony had committed to donating $300,000 to the project and that the city was doing $100,000 in in-kind donations to the project and proposed possibly committing $200,000 in cash. The city purchased the land for the project back in 2009, at a cost of $875,000. The complex will hold nine fields and is located at the intersection of Baldwin County 13 and Manley Road. Last April, the council approved over $2 million in bids for construction, but did not include concession stands, restrooms or equipment in those plans. Mayor Tim Kant said leaving those items out had been a cost-saving measure. “We did not go ahead and put in that building because we were hoping to have some help from the soccer league, and now we have that,” Kant said. “It will save a lot of money for the soccer league to build it, as far as all the red tape the city would have to go through. Hopefully, we will have a nice, complete facility by the end of the year.” The city’s in-kind donations to the facility would be installing sewer lines, power and wiring to the restrooms and concession buildings. Sherry Sullivan, Fairhope’s recreation and community affairs director, told the council that the fields had already been grassed and the parking lot pavement had been put down. She added that the fields will be ready for the October tournament. “The October tournament is still on,” Sullivan said. “The fields look great and the lights will be ready. We’re hoping to be able to have the entire tournament at the new facility. The only thing lacking right now is concessions and the restroom facilities.”