Bristol Motor Speedway has long been known for thunderous stock cars and intense racing battles, but this weekend, it will shift into a new role. On Saturday, the half-mile track transforms into a baseball stadium, hosting a regular-season MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds. With a sold-out crowd and potential attendance records looming, this event signals that “The Last Great Coliseum” might just have a future beyond NASCAR, expanding its reach to other major sporting spectacles.
Key Highlights
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Bristol Motor Speedway hosts a Braves vs. Reds MLB game with over 85,000 tickets sold.
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The Speedway Classic could set a new MLB attendance record.
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NHL and WWE officials are evaluating the venue for future events.
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Past non-NASCAR events include a record-setting 2016 college football game.
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Speedway Motorsports has discussed a potential roof for larger event possibilities.
Bristol Hosts MLB Game in Historic Speedway Classic
For the first time, Bristol Motor Speedway will trade the rumble of race cars for the crack of baseball bats. The Speedway Classic brings the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds to a one-of-a-kind setting, where a diamond has been built inside the track’s infield. With more than 85,000 tickets sold, the event is tracking toward breaking the MLB attendance record.
It follows Major League Baseball’s recent efforts to stage games at unique locations, such as the Field of Dreams in Iowa and Rickwood Field in Alabama to honor the Negro Leagues. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX, offering fans a sporting spectacle rarely seen at a motorsports venue. Bristol Motor Speedway president Jerry Caldwell explained the broader vision for these crossover events.
“We believe we will continue to show that Bristol Motor Speedway is a facility for lots of different types of events. You can go down the list of the natural next—after football and baseball, then you’ve got hockey and soccer that both make sense. If you want a facility that has a big open space that you can put a playing surface down … and then want to be able to host some of the largest crowds in the country, then Bristol is going to be the place to at least explore for that.” – Jerry Caldwell
A Track with a History of Multi-Sport Events
This is not the first time Bristol has embraced a new identity. In 2016, the track was transformed for a college football matchup between Tennessee and Virginia Tech. That game drew 156,990 fans, the largest recorded crowd in NCAA football history. The success of that event proved Bristol’s ability to adapt its infield and infrastructure for sports outside racing.
With its coliseum-style seating and massive capacity, the speedway has a track record of creating memorable moments for fans, no matter the sport being played on its grounds. Officials from the NHL will attend Saturday’s baseball game to assess whether hockey could become a future attraction. The track’s leadership views these ventures as a natural extension of its brand, turning it into a multi-purpose entertainment hub while maintaining its NASCAR roots.
Future Possibilities: WWE, UFC, and a Roofed Coliseum
Looking ahead, Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith hinted at even more ambitious plans, including a potential roof that could allow the venue to host events regardless of weather. The idea opens doors to possibilities beyond traditional sports, including large-scale entertainment spectacles.
“We could do WrestleMania. You could have, who knows what, the biggest UFC fight in the world.” – Marcus Smith
Such developments would cement Bristol as one of the most versatile venues in American sports. With NASCAR already holding multiple major races there each season, the ability to bring in MLB, football, hockey, wrestling, or combat sports could transform its identity within the broader sports landscape. For now, the Speedway Classic is a bold next step in testing how far that vision can reach, as baseball takes center stage on a track known worldwide for racing history.
News in Brief: Report for Future Events at Bristol Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway is hosting the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds in a landmark MLB game, drawing over 85,000 fans and potentially setting an attendance record. This follows its 2016 football success and signals a push for more multi-sport events, with NHL officials evaluating the venue and WWE mentioned as a future option. Speedway Motorsports has even considered adding a roof to expand possibilities further. First pitch is 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX. Experience Bristol’s evolving legacy—watch history unfold where racing tradition meets new sports frontiers this Saturday.
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