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Star Correspondent

Major League Baseball will stage its first-ever game in Tennessee this summer as the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds meet in a historic showdown inside Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025.

The event, billed as the MLB Speedway Classic presented by Build Submarines, marks an unprecedented convergence of professional baseball and motorsports at one of the sport’s most iconic venues.

The game will be played in the infield of Bristol Motor Speedway, a half-mile NASCAR track known as The Last Great Colosseum. With a seating capacity of more than 146,000, the venue is among the largest stadiums in the United States and has hosted a wide array of events beyond racing, including college football games and major concerts.

However, this will be the first time professional baseball has ever been played at the site, and the first time MLB has brought a regular-season game to the Volunteer State.

To help promote the upcoming event, the Reds organization brought Hall of Famer Johnny Bench to Bristol during the NASCAR Food City 500 race weekend.

Bench and the former Voice of the Vols Bob Kesling served as grand marshals for the Sunday race.

Bench, widely regarded as the greatest catcher in baseball history, was in attendance during race festivities to raise awareness about the game.

Mascots from both franchises — Blooper for the Braves and Mr. Redlegs for the Reds — also made appearances, mingling with NASCAR fans in the infield and pit areas ahead of the race, which was won by Kyle Larson.

An estimated attendance of more than 100,000 is expected, making the contest one of the most highly attended games in baseball history.

Organizers say it is possible the event could eclipse the all-time MLB attendance record of 115,300, which was set on March 29, 2008, during a preseason game between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Ticket prices for the game range from $50 to $800, reflecting the significance and rarity of the matchup. The game is part of MLB’s broader effort to expand the sport’s reach by hosting games in nontraditional venues and underserved markets.

The Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, two of the National League’s oldest and most storied franchises, will headline the event. The Braves, a perennial contender in the NL East, boast a deep fan base throughout the southeastern United States.

The Reds, known for their deep history and legacy of Hall of Fame talent, represent one of the sport’s foundational clubs, having been established in 1869 as baseball’s first professional team.

The timing of the game, in early August, places it in the heat of the pennant races. With both the Braves and Reds in contention in their respective divisions, the game is expected to carry postseason implications in addition to its symbolic importance.

The matchup will be broadcast nationally and supported by a week of surrounding events, including fan festivals, youth baseball clinics and tributes to Tennessee’s baseball heritage.

Hosting an official MLB game represents a milestone in the state’s connection to the game and is expected to generate significant economic impact for the Bristol region.

With anticipation building and preparations underway, Bristol is preparing to welcome baseball to Tennessee in grand fashion — with lights shining bright inside a colosseum built for speed, but ready to make history with America’s pastime.