The NHL isn’t a stranger to big attendance numbers. In 2014, 104,173 fans flocked to Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Detroit Red Wings, which continues to be the most-attended NHL hockey match to this day. But soon, a new host site might look to topple Michigan as the spot that witnessed the biggest confluence of hockey fans.
The Bristol Motor Speedway might not be the longest race track out there, standing at just 0.533 miles, but it has carved a name for itself among the NASCAR community. Often hailed as the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile,” this iconic venue is currently looking to expand its horizons. With the beloved race track opening its doors to other sports, the NHL is looking to join the queue and find itself a new home.
Sports Business Journal‘s Adam Stern took to X on August 1 to share how the NHL could be looking to follow in the MLB’s footsteps and be the next sport to entertain fans at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. “@NHL executives will be at Bristol tomorrow to check out the Speedway Classic, as a hockey game is one of the next options being mulled by SMI,” the social media update notes on how ice hockey could be the next big thing on the motorway’s resume after it made history on Saturday.
As per reports, more than 85,000 tickets were sold for Saturday’s MLB Speedway Classic, the first-ever regular-season baseball game in the state. While the Bristol Motorway can otherwise host 156,990 fans, multiple sections were blocked off for the weekend baseball match between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds. And now, the NHL just might look to be part of the action too.
.@NHL executives will be at Bristol tomorrow to check out the Speedway Classic, as a hockey game is one of the next options being mulled by SMI. – @Sportico https://t.co/MBJlBvV5vD
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) August 2, 2025
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