Braves, Reds Set for Historic MLB Showdown at Legendary NASCAR Track, Bristol Motor Speedway

Bristol Motor Speedway, renowned for its NASCAR events, is set to host a regular-season MLB game featuring the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds in 2025.

The announcement will be made official by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith, the owner and operator of the Bristol track, this Friday, according to The Athletic's Jordan Bianchi and Evan Drellich.

The racetrack boasts a seating capacity of nearly 150,000, which would potentially give the game the largest MLB crowd in history. The venue has previously hosted record-breaking events, such as the 2016 college football game between Tennessee and Virginia Tech, which drew a crowd of 156,990.

This upcoming game is part of MLB's broader strategy to bring its sport to unique and varied locations. In recent years, MLB has staged games in diverse settings, such as the "Field of Dreams" game in Dyersville, Iowa, and the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The league also held the Seoul Series in 2024, the first regular-season games in South Korea, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Smith's innovative approach to hosting events at his venues aligns with MLB's adventurous spirit. In 2021, Bristol hosted a NASCAR Cup Series dirt race, the first since 1970, showcasing Smith's willingness to embrace new ideas. Normally, the track holds two NASCAR race weekends per year.

The collaboration between NASCAR and MLB for this event is poised to create a spectacular and memorable experience for fans. With the potential to set an attendance record for an MLB game, featuring some of the games best players like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Elly De La Cruz, this historic event at Bristol Motor Speedway hopes to be a landmark moment in sports history featuring two of baseball's most storied teams.