DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Soccer players and their families will fill the fields in Decatur this weekend as the Midstate Cup tournament returns.
It brings teams from across Illinois and neighboring states to the area.
The annual tournament features 136 teams this year, competing throughout the weekend.
“It is exciting, stressful, but more exciting getting all the teams from the areas, getting the community together. This weather, the shape of the field, it's all coming together,” said Midstate Soccer Club Director Kip McDaniel.
McDaniel said the tournament continues to grow and highlighted the quality of the local soccer facilities.
“This is a top-notch complex. Our groundskeepers here have done a top-notch job of maintaining it and priming it and making sure it's in perfect condition for the Midstate Cup,” McDaniel said.
The tournament is also expected to provide a significant economic boost to the Decatur area.
According to Tonya Culp with the Decatur Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, last year’s tournament generated an estimated $33,000 in economic impact during the weekend event.
“We're expecting a larger amount of attendance from all over Illinois and the surrounding states, [which] should be an even greater impact for this year,” Culp said.
Culp said tournaments like the Midstate Cup help showcase what Decatur has to offer visitors.
“I think that we do a great job at showcasing, especially for sports. We have the venues that can put on these big events, and then that brings people back. Even if it's just for sports, maybe they'll see some of the other things in the area and bring their families back,” Culp said.
U8 through U19 teams will compete over the weekend.
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