Bristol Motor Speedway will host a Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds in August 2025.
Officials from Major League Baseball, Speedway Motorsports and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee were on hand at the track Friday morning to announce the MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol, the first National League/American League game ever played in Tennessee.
“Major League Baseball is excited to host a special game at Bristol Motor Speedway, a unique setting that will be forever remembered by sports fans,” said MLB Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. “The Reds and Braves are an ideal matchup because of their dynamic talent and the proximity of their markets. We look forward to celebrating our game with a large number of fans on and off the field all weekend long, highlighting the rich traditions of sports, music and community in Tennessee and the entire region.”
Jerry Caldwell, President and General Manager of Bristol Motor Speedway, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Major League Baseball to bring the Speedway Classic to the ‘Home of Big Events’ on August 2, 2025. Bristol and the area, long considered the heart of the Appalachian League, have a rich baseball history. Additionally, Bristol’s location makes it the perfect place for a ‘meeting point’ between these two beloved clubs. It is only fitting that the World’s Fastest Half-Mile showcase this game, which will feature the talented athletes in a venue with a reputation built on speed and high performance.”
Fox Sports will be the broadcast partner. The game is considered a home game for the Cincinnati Reds and the two teams will face off in Cincinnati on Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1 before heading to the track.
The infield of the 800-meter track will be converted into a baseball field to accommodate the teams on Saturday, August 2nd.
Bristol Motor Speedway has been familiar with hosting non-NASCAR events for years. The 2016 Battle at Bristol pitted the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech against each other in a regular-season college football game on the track’s infield. The game set an NCAA football record with 156,990 fans in attendance.
MLB is also no stranger to taking its events to new locations. In 2021 and 2022, MLB hosted a regular season game, the MLB at Fields of Dreams game, next to the site where the popular 1989 movie was filmed. Earlier this year, Rickwood Field, which has hosted Nego League games, hosted a regular season game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants.
Bristol Motor Speedway 2024-2025 ticket holders and Braves and Reds season ticket holders will have access to the presale on September 16. General public sales begin in early December.
