The first ever Major League Baseball (MLB) in Tennessee game is set for about this time next, according to Gov. Bill Lee (R).
The governor’s office said in a release that the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves will play a regular season game marketed as the MLB Speedway Classic at Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2, 2025.
“Tennessee has a remarkable history of hosting sporting events on the national stage, and we’re honored to announce the first Major League Baseball game of its kind in state history,” Lee said of the game. “Baseball is a great American brand that belongs in Tennessee, and we look forward to welcoming Reds and Braves fans to Bristol while ensuring continued economic growth and prosperity across the Volunteer State.”
The Commissioner of the MLB, Robert Manfred, said the Red and the Braves were chosen partly due to their proximity to Tennessee. Both teams have a significant fan base in the state.
“The Reds and the Braves form an ideal matchup because of their dynamic talent and the proximity of their markets,” he said. “We look forward to celebrating our game with a wide array of fans, both on and off the field throughout the weekend, and highlighting the rich traditions of sports, music, and community in Tennessee and across the region.”
The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves with Governor Bill Lee at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN
According to ESPN, in the near future, when the league forms a committee to hash out which two cities will be chosen for expansion, Nashville will be an attractive option because it is already home to professional football and hockey teams, and because of the state’s rapid population growth.
While Lee wants a professional baseball team in Nashville, and while the city is on the short list for the home of the next expansion team, Tennessee’s taxpayers don’t want to foot the bill.
As reported by The Tennessee Star, 58 percent of Tennesseans do not want their tax dollars spent on an MLB stadium. Only 27 of those polled support the idea.
Residents of Davidson County may be particularly sour on the idea, given that $1 billion of their tax money was recently allocated for the redesign of Nissan Stadium, where the Tennessee Titans play.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter/X.
Photo “MLB Speedway Classic” by MLB.
