In just a matter of days, Tennessee will serve as host to the largest regular season single-game crowd in Major League Baseball history.
More than 85,000 tickets have already been sold to Saturday’s Major League Baseball Speedway Classic in Bristol, a contest that will pit the Cincinnati Reds against the Atlanta Braves at Bristol Motor Speedway.
It will be the first American or National League game ever played in Tennessee, according to a release.
The paid attendance has already eclipsed the previous paid attendance record of 84,587 fans, set on Sept. 12, 1954, in Cleveland Stadium, when the New York Yankees visited the then-Cleveland Indians (now nicknamed the Guardians).
Fans from all 50 states in the U.S., as well as from Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and nine countries on four continents have purchased tickets.
The ceremonial first pitch before the Speedway Classic will feature two Hall of Famers who spent their entire careers representing the two competing teams. Former Braves superstar Chipper Jones will throw the first pitch to another one of the all-time greats, former Reds catcher Johnny Bench.
Each of the teams’ uniforms will feature racing-themed accents, including custom numbers on the jerseys, specialized caps and helmets designed after NASCAR styles. The Braves’ caps will have flames on the visor, while the Reds’ will feature checkered flags.
Pre-game musical entertainers will include Tim McGraw, Pitbull and Jake Owen. McGraw is the son of former pro baseball star Tug McGRaw.
The MLB Speedway Classic will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, with the first pitch set for 6:15 p.m. (CT).