The Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves will play a national regular season game in the MLB Speedway Classic at Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on FOX, Major League Baseball announced on Friday, Aug. 9. The MLB Speedway Classic, which is presented by BuildSubmarines.com, will mark the first American or National League game ever played in Tennessee, which will become the fifth different state across the country since 2016 to host an MLB game that will be a first-time AL or NL contest. A baseball diamond ready for a Major League game will be built across the famed Bristol track at one of the largest standalone sporting venues in the nation.
MLB has once again partnered with BaAM Productions, BrightView and Populous on delivering 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.”
FOX Sports will provide exclusive national coverage of the MLB Speedway Classic. The event will be considered a Reds home date, with two games on Thursday and Friday in Cincinnati now preceding the special Saturday matchup and Sunday being held as a potential rain makeup date. Pre-sales for the Speedway Classic will begin this September and will include early access purchase opportunities for Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds Season Ticket Members as well as Bristol Motor Speedway racing ticketholders. The public ticket offering is expected this December.
Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. 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.”
The Governor of Tennessee, the Honorable Bill Lee, said: “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. 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 MLB Speedway Classic follows other recent special events that have taken groundbreaking Major League games to non-traditional domestic locales, including the 2016 MLB at Fort Bragg game (which included the Braves playing the Miami Marlins); the annual Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania since 2017; MLB in Omaha at the NCAA’s Men’s College World Series in 2019; MLB at Field of Dreams in 2021 and 2022 (the latter of which included the Reds playing the Chicago Cubs); and MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues in June of this year. These events marked the first AL or NL games ever played in North Carolina, Nebraska, Iowa and Alabama, respectively.
Reds President and Chief Executive Officer Phil Castellini said: “The Reds are excited to be the home team for this unforgettable first at the Bristol Motor Speedway. 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.”
Atlanta Braves President and CEO Derek Schiller said: “It is an honor for our organization to be a part of Major League Baseball’s Speedway Classic. 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.”
Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice President, Chief Venue and Racing Innovation Officer, said: “It’s going to be incredibly cool to see Major League Baseball, the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds descend upon Bristol Motor Speedway, one of NASCAR’s most iconic venues, for what will surely be an extraordinary game and experience in 2025. The Braves and Reds are two storied franchises, and both reside in markets filled with passionate NASCAR fans. Already the site for so many amazing NASCAR moments, Bristol Motor Speedway is the perfect backdrop for this exciting milestone event.”
Jerry Caldwell, President and General Manager of Bristol Motor Speedway, said: “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. 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!”
Known as The Last Great Colosseum, Bristol Motor Speedway has a rich history as a major sports and entertainment destination. Its stadium-like structure serves as a versatile multi-use venue that has hosted major auto races, concerts by legendary musicians, football games and many other captivating events. Work began on what was then called Bristol International Speedway in 1960. Forged amid the scenic mountains of Northeast Tennessee near the Virginia state line, the historic facility earned its reputation for producing incredible finishes during its most storied event, referred to as “America’s Night Race.” Darrell Waltrip has the most NASCAR Cup Series Victories at Bristol Motor Speedway with 12, followed by Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Cale Yarborough and Kyle Busch at nine apiece. Twenty years ago, Dale Earnhardt Jr. coined the memorable phrase "It's Bristol, Baby!" after his sweep of Cup and Xfinity victories at the 2004 Night Race.
