Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, start your engines.
Major League Baseball officially announced Friday that the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds will play the final of a three-game series in the MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee on Aug. 2, 2025.
It will mark the first American or National League game played in Tennessee, which will become the fifth different state in the United States to host a first-time MLB game since 2016 joining Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska and North Carolina.
“Major League Baseball is excited to deliver a special game at Bristol Motor Speedway, a unique setting that sports fans will remember forever,” MLB commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. stated in a release. “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.”
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According to MLB and Bristol Motor Speedway, an MLB-ready baseball diamond “will be built across the famed Bristol track at one of the largest standalone sporting venues in the nation.” The racetrack held 156,990 college football fans in September 2016 when Tennessee beat Virginia Tech, the largest regular-season crowd in NCAA history.
“Tennessee has a remarkable history of hosting sporting events on the national stage, and we’re honored to host the first Major League Baseball game of its kind in state history,” Tennessee governor Bill Lee stated in a release. “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.”
MLB is partnering with BaAM Productions, BrightView and Populous to provide fans “a once-in-a-lifetime experience to sports fans at the Speedway Classic, which will include fan attractions and live music in the ‘birthplace of country music,’” according to a release.
The MLB Speedway Classic follows MLB’s other recent special events such as the 2016 MLB at Fort Bragg game, the annual Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, since 2017, MLB in Omaha in 2019, MLB at Field of Dreams in 2021 and 2022, and MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues in June.
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“On behalf of the team at Bristol Motor Speedway and Speedway Motorsports, we are thrilled to partner with Major League Baseball to bring the Speedway Classic to the ‘Home of Big Events’ on August 2, 2025,” President and General Manager of Bristol Motor Speedway Jerry Caldwell stated in a release. “There is deep baseball history in Bristol and around this area, long acknowledged as the heart of the Appalachian League. In addition, Bristol’s location makes it the perfect ‘meet in the middle’ destination for a showdown between these two beloved clubs. It’s only appropriate for the World’s Fastest Half-Mile to showcase this game where the talented athletes will be on display in a venue that’s reputation was built on speed and high performance. We want to give a special thank you to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the General Assembly, for their leadership and vision to work alongside Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to help develop this monumental event. We have been blessed by the support of so many community leaders in our region who provided valuable assistance to make this dream game a reality. We’re ready; let’s play ball at Bristol, Baby!”
Four Minor League Baseball teams call Tennessee home, and Nashville has hosted the Baseball Winter Meetings eight times, most recently last offseason.
More than 400 MLB batters, 225 pitchers and 10 managers hail from Tennessee, according to Baseball Reference, in addition to nearly 100 Negro Leaguers who were born in the state, according to MLB. Twenty-two players selected in the 2024 MLB Draft played at colleges in Tennessee.
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Here are statements from Braves President and CEO Derek Schiller and Reds President and Chief Executive Officer Phil Castellini.
“It is an honor for our organization to be a part of Major League Baseball’s Speedway Classic,” Schiller stated in a release. “Bristol Motor Speedway is sure to offer one of the most exciting and memorable experiences in our game’s history. We look forward to seeing tens of thousands of fans from across Braves Country gather in Bristol next August to cheer on our team in this iconic venue.”
“The Reds are excited to be the home team for this unforgettable first at the Bristol Motor Speedway,” Castellini stated in a release. “Thank you to Major League Baseball for making this groundbreaking game happen. We cannot wait for all of Reds Country to cheer on their Reds in this unique and historic setting.”
Pre-sales including early access purchase opportunities for tickets will begin in September for Atlanta and Cincinnati’s season ticket members in addition to Bristol Motor Speedway racing ticketholders, according to a release. Public ticket offering “is expected this December.” Updates on the event including ticket information can be found at mlb.com/speedwayclassic.
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First pitch at Bristol Motor Speedway will broadcast on FOX Sports at 7 p.m. The series between the Braves and Reds will first begin in Cincinnati on July 31, 2025, and allow for a potential rain makeup date on Aug. 3, 2025.
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