Start your engines… for baseball? You heard that right! Major League Baseball is swapping the outfield grass for the high banks of Bristol Motor Speedway. Get ready for the “MLB Speedway Classic,” a real-deal regular-season contest speeding into Thunder Valley on August 2, 2025. This wild ride features the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds playing right in the middle of the historic NASCAR track.
And as if all of these weren’t loud enough, country music king Tim McGraw is headlining a pregame concert! This is not just a ballgame. It is becoming an unforgettable Tennessee festival.
So, here’s the official word dropped by MLB: Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 2, 2025. The Braves and Reds will battle it out under the lights, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Also fueling the excitement: Country superstar Tim McGraw will rock the infield with a concert starting about an hour before game time. The entire spectacle presented by BuildSubmarines.com will be broadcast nationally on FOX. It’s technically a Reds home game, though it’s being played in Bristol, Tennessee!
The excitement is real in Tennessee, particularly from the state’s top office. Governor Bill Lee couldn’t hide his enthusiasm, sending out a heartfelt plea – well, a really welcoming tweet! He posted: “It just makes sense to have an iconic Tennessean, @TheTimMcGraw, kick off the Volunteer State’s first-ever @MLB game on August 2! We invite baseball fans & country music fans from across the nation to join us in Bristol the summer.” It’s obvious the Governor sees this as an ideal blend of Tennessee pride, music, and baseball history.
It just makes sense to have an iconic Tennessean, @TheTimMcGraw, kick off the Volunteer State’s first-ever @MLB game on August 2!
We invite baseball fans & country music fans from across the nation to join us in Bristol the summer. https://t.co/QvDw81uOif
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) April 22, 2025
And Governor Lee is, in fact, spot-on about the history part. This Braves-Reds matchup is the first American League game ever played in Tennessee. How cool is that? It follows MLB’s awesome trend of taking games to unique spots like the Field of Dreams in Iowa or Little League’s home in Williamsport. Hosting it at Bristol Motor Speedway, famously known as “The Last Great Colosseum,” only adds legend upon legend. Fans who are there won’t just watch a game. They’ll witness a piece of baseball history unfold.
Where speed meets skill: Bristol gears up for historic event
To have Tim McGraw too in the mix is like hitting a grand slam. He’s a huge country star with three Grammy awards and deep Tennessee roots. But here’s the kicker: Tim’s dad was the legendary Phillies and Mets pitcher Tug McGraw! Tim used to play college baseball himself before making it big in music. What a perfect pairing between the performer, the venue, and the sport. What a genius way to unite baseball, NASCAR, and country music fans together for one epic night.
Want to be part of this history-making event? So here’s the deal on tickets: They were released for sale following a handful of early presales. You gotta buy ’em online through MLB.com/speedwayclassic or Ticketmaster – no phone or walk-up sales. Prices start at about $50 (plus fees), but may fluctuate according to demand, so grab ’em if you’re interested! There is a per-person limit of eight tickets. Your concert ticket is the same as your game ticket, and with premium options, you can get closer to the stage.
It’s not just fans and the Governor who are buzzing. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred called Bristol a “unique setting that sports fans will remember forever.” The teams are excited, too. Braves President Derek Schiller expects an “exciting and memorable experience,” while Reds President Phil Castellini is excited about the “unforgettable first.”
True! This probably goes beyond merely marking another date on the calendar; this is a historic moment for America’s favorite pastime.
Even the NASCAR world is tipping its cap. NASCAR exec Ben Kennedy called it an “extraordinary game” at one of racing’s “most iconic venues.” Bristol Motor Speedway President Jerry Caldwell thanked the governors involved and perfectly summed up Bristol’s appeal as the “perfect ‘meet in the middle’ destination” for Braves and Reds fans. This is where speed meets skill like never before.
So, if you love the crack of the bat or the roar of an engine, Bristol’s calling. Baseball diamond dust meets tire smoke – are you ready for the most unique game day ever?
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