Images: Populous
Major League Baseball has announced plans for a regular-season game at Bristol Motor Speedway next year, with the event to mark the league’s first-ever visit to Tennessee.
The MLB Speedway Classic will take place on August 2, 2025 between the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves. The game will potentially set a record attendance for the league, with Bristol Motor Speedway’s capacity standing at almost 150,000.
Bristol Motor Speedway is primarily a NASCAR venue but has hosted other sports in the past. In 2016, it set an NCAA attendance record as 156,990 fans watched a college football game between Virginia Tech and the University of Tennessee.
BuildSubmarines.com will serve as the presenting partner for the event. A major-league field will be built across the racetrack, with a range of “fan festivities” to be launched around the event.
MLB has partnered with BaAM Productions, BrightView and Populous on the event. Tennessee will become the fifth different state across the US since 2016 to host an MLB game that will be a first-time American or National League contest.
MLB commissioner Robert Manfred said: “Major League Baseball is excited to deliver a special game at Bristol Motor Speedway, a unique setting that sports fans will remember forever.
“The Reds and the Braves form an ideal matchup because of their dynamic talent and the proximity of their markets. We look forward to celebrating our game with a wide array of fans, both on and off the field throughout the weekend, and highlighting the rich traditions of sports, music and community in Tennessee and across the region.”
Bill Lee, Governor of Tennessee, added: “Tennessee has a remarkable history of hosting sporting events on the national stage, and we’re honoured to host the first Major League Baseball game of its kind in state history. Baseball is a great American brand that belongs in Tennessee, and we look forward to welcoming Reds and Braves fans to Bristol while ensuring continued economic growth and prosperity across the Volunteer State.”
The game will serve as a home fixture for the Reds. Ticket pre-sales will begin in September, with a public ticket offering set to launch in December.
Tennessee is home to four Minor League Baseball teams: the Triple-A Nashville Sounds and the Memphis Redbirds of the International Leagues, and the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts and the Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League.
In recent years, MLB has staged a number of games in non-traditional locations, including a Field of Dreams event in Iowa in 2021 and 2022, and a regular-season fixture at Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the US.
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