BRISTOL, Tenn. — Bristol Motor Speedway has served several unexpected purposes over the years, including as a stadium for a record-shattering Tennessee football game, a hurricane evacuation site, and as a drive-thru with Christmas lights.
Now, it's slated to host a Major League Baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.
Several national news outlets, including The Athletic with The New York Times, said multiple sources told them about the plans to temporarily transform Bristol Motor Speedway into a baseball field in 2025.
According to The Athletic, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is set to make the announcement on Friday with Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is also scheduled to appear at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday for an announcement at 11 a.m.
The MLB has held special games at nontraditional venues in recent years, including the "Field of Dreams" games in 2021 and 2022.
Likewise, Bristol Motor Speedway has hosted things that weren't racing, including the "Battle at Bristol" in Sept. 2016 between the Tennessee Vols and Virginia Tech Hokies. The game was a massive hit and saw more than 156,000 fans attend, setting a new NCAA football record for the largest single-game attendance.
