BRISTOL, Tenn. — Much of the familiar concrete infield at Bristol Motor Speedway is no longer visible.
It has been replaced by a baseball infield carved atop almost 20,000 tons of gravel to prepare for the MLB Speedway Classic between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.
“It no doubt will be one of our most iconic days in baseball and one of the most special days of the 2025 season,” said Jeremiah Yolkut, the senior vice president of global events with Major League Baseball.
MLB and Bristol Motor Speedway are ramping up work installing a baseball field and necessary facilities with less than 40 days remaining until the Aug. 2 game.
Racks of seats for grandstands, stacks of lumber and plywood and pallets of gravel lined the inside of the track on June 24. Cones marked the bases and pitcher’s mound, while plates were being installed for the foul poles down both lines.
“What is really fun to see is all this come to life that will bring us to August 2 and the first MLB game in Tennessee,” Yolkut said.
See crews work on the MLB Speedway Classic field at Bristol Motor Speedway
Watch as crews begin work on the baseball field at Bristol Motor Speedway for the MLB Speedway Classic game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds.
The field is being constructed on approximately half the infield. The process included using 17,500 tons of gravel to level and create the field. It will require 340 tons of clay, which is expected to arrive soon. A synthetic turf playing surface that matches what is used at Rogers Centre, the Toronto Blue Jays’ ballpark, will be installed. Additional lighting will be installed on the roof of the facility.
The field will measure 400 feet to center field, 375 feet to the gaps and 330 feet down the lines.
Bristol Motor Speedway removed half of the Goodyear Building on one end of the infield as well as portions of the pit wall on one side of the track to create space for the field.
“A lot of things had to take place to open up the area to open it up to construct a field,” said Steve Swift, the senior vice president of operations and development at Speedway Motorsports.
Clubhouses will be built for both teams, including showers, locker rooms and weight rooms to mirror what is available in any MLB ballpark.
All the baseball elements will be removed prior to the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Sept. 13.
“Everything we are going to do is temporary in nature,” said Annmarie Roe, the president of BaAM Productions.
MLB announced a fan zone outside the facility on the day of the game. It will include performances from a handful of musicians, including country star Jake Owen. MLB previously announced Tim McGraw and Pitbull will perform on stage next to the ballpark inside the speedway.
The fan zone will include food trucks from local vendors, a ferris wheel, the World Series trophy and batting cages.
MLB Network will broadcast live from the fan zone and ESPN’s “SportsCenter” will be on hand for its 50 states in 50 days campaign.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
