The City of Fairfield is preparing to welcome thousands of soccer players and their families next month. The Mid-American Soccer Classic will celebrate its 40th year the weekend of April 10th through the 12th. John Harmon with the Fairfield Optimist Club told city council more than 400 teams from seven states are expected to take part. The tournament will be played on 54 local fields, including Joyce Park. More than 8,000 players, ages 8 to 18, will be in the area, along with their families. Travel Butler County says the event is expected to generate about three-and-a-half million dollars in economic impact. Harmon says last year’s tournament was hampered by heavy rain, but every game was still played—a fact that left a strong impression on visiting teams and their families.