In a rare and exciting twist, the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds are set to face off in a regular-season game at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2, 2025. The iconic racetrack, known for hosting the Tennessee-Virginia Tech college football game in 2016, will now welcome Major League Baseball to its grounds for the MLB Speedway Classic.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed his excitement for this special game, highlighting the unique setting that sports fans will remember for years to come. The matchup between the Reds and Braves was chosen due to their dynamic talent and the proximity of their markets.
The event is expected to draw a massive crowd, with FOX televising the game at 7 p.m. ET on a Saturday night. The record attendance for an MLB game currently stands at 115,300, set back in 2008. With Bristol’s seating capacity undisclosed, it remains to be seen if this game will break that record.
The game will serve as the finale of a three-game Reds homestand, with the first two games taking place in Cincinnati. In case of inclement weather, Sunday, May 3, has been reserved as a rain date.
This historic event marks the first MLB game to be played in Tennessee, adding to the growing list of states that have hosted their first MLB contests in recent years. Bristol’s location, nestled in the Appalachian mountains and bordering Tennessee and Virginia, makes it a fitting destination for this unique showdown.
To accommodate the baseball game, Bristol will make adjustments to its facility, including modifying the pit road wall and removing a building used for tire mounting during race weekends. The field dimensions will be 330 feet down the lines, 400 feet to center, and 384 feet in left-center and 375 feet in right-center.
Ticket details have yet to be announced, but Braves, Reds, and Bristol season-ticket holders will have priority access to purchase tickets in September, with public sales opening in December.
In addition to the game itself, the Bristol weekend will feature live music, celebrating the region’s rich traditions in sports, music, and community. The construction of the field will be handled by architectural design company Populous and landscape company BrightView, ensuring a top-notch playing surface for the historic event.
As fans eagerly anticipate this groundbreaking game at Bristol Motor Speedway, the excitement continues to build for what promises to be a memorable and historic event in the world of baseball.