Speedway Classic Set To Break MLB's Regular Season Single-Game Attendance Record
The previous record was set in September 1954, when 84,587 fans watched a game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland at Cleveland Stadium as part of a doubleheader.
As of Monday, fans from all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and nine other countries had bought tickets to attend Saturday's game, according to MLB. Tickets are still on sale for the MLB Speedway Classic.
For car races, Bristol Motor Speedway has a stadium capacity of 146,000. However, the racetrack hosted more fans than that (156,990) when Virginia Tech and Tennessee played a college football game there in 2016.
The single-game attendance record for all MLB games is 115,300. That record was set when the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a spring training game in 2008.
Beyond the record being made in the crowd, Saturday's game will mark the first time an MLB game will be played in Tennessee. It's also the first MLB game that will ever be played on a racetrack.
Both the Braves and Reds unveiled special uniforms that they'll wear for the game last week, with the location of the game serving as the inspiration for the theme of their looks. In addition, Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson will wear gear that's inspired by the hit movie, "Talladega Nights."
The Reds will likely enter the series looking to continue their push for the playoffs. Cincinnati is one game out of the final wild card spot in the National League as of Monday. The Braves, meanwhile, have had a disappointing season and could be sellers ahead of the MLB trade deadline on Thursday.
As for the pregame festivities, Hall of Famers who played for each team will throw the first pitch. Chipper Jones will represent the Braves, while Johnny Bench will represent the Reds.
Saturday's game will air on FOX and the FOX Sports app, with first pitch being scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
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Play ball, take 2: The MLB Speedway Classic resumes at Bristol after rain suspension
BRISTOL, Tenn. — A record crowd for a regular-season Major League Baseball game got to see all the pomp and pageantry with the MLB Speedway Classic before the rain washed out the game itself in the bottom of the first inning. Fans returning Sunday only wanted to watch the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds play ball. They enjoyed enough of star Tim McGraw and Pitbull in the rain that suspended the first MLB regular-season game in the state of Tennessee. 'We got to see all of that (Saturday), so as long as we see game today I think we'll be good,' Cindy Lowe of Mount Airy, North Carolina, said. Craig Morton agreed. He and his family, with three children, were ready to see baseball even if Morton is the Reds' fan surrounded by relatives rooting for the Braves. They had a good time seeing McGraw and country singer Jake Owen. Sunday was dry at Bristol Motor Speedway even with overcast skies. 'We're really glad that they played the game today instead of last night because we sat here a couple hours in the rain and everybody was saturated even with rain gear,' Morton said. 'The kids are happy so we're happy.' This MLB Speedway Classic was first announced nearly a year ago as part of Commissioner Rob Manfred's push to take MLB to places where baseball isn't played every day live. MLB played a game at the 'Field of Dreams' movie site in Iowa in both 2021 and 2022. Alabama and North Carolina, too. MLB didn't try to sell every ticket inside the speedway that drew 156,990 for the Battle of Bristol college football game in 2016. The track with a racing capacity of 146,000 meant the final attendance number could reach 90,000 or more even with sections blocked off. The previous paid attendance of 84,587 was set Sept. 12, 1954, when Cleveland Stadium hosted the New York Yankees. Simply canceling this game wasn't an option. The Reds are in the chase for a wild-card spot, and this is the last time these teams meet this season. Teams had police escorts to make sure they got back to Bristol on Sunday. For fans, the commute back to Bristol Motor Speedway, billed as 'The Last Great Colosseum' with its history as a half-mile bullring of a racetrack, was easier for some than others. Steven Long of Atlanta, Georgia, was on a party bus to his hotel in Knoxville with a bunch of distributors. He drove the 110 miles back to Bristol on Sunday by himself even though he had hoped to be driving home. He couldn't miss the first MLB game at a racetrack. 'I had to come back,' said Long, who wore his Braves jersey hoping for a win. MLB will be announcing an attendance figure later Sunday. Officials already knew this event would draw a record crowd with 85,000 tickets sold as of Monday. The big question Sunday was how many people would return for baseball itself after the big party that MLB and Bristol threw for fans Saturday. For Lowe and Jason Lawson, this is a moment they couldn't miss after buying tickets in May. 'The history, the nostalgia of Bristol Motor Speedway combined with Major League Baseball all in one I think,' Lowe said. Long was being joined by a couple of friends. He saw one benefit of returning even if others chose not to. 'We'll have more space around us, so we won't be on top of each other,' Long said. Indeed. Fans had plenty of room to spread out, dance and enjoy the capping event of the MLB Speedway Classic. ___ AP MLB: and AP auto racing:
