"It really could be an awesome event" - Trevor Plouffe excited for Braves vs. Reds game at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2025
Bristol Motor Speedway, a famed NASCAR venue, is the proposed site for a 2025 MLB game featuring the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds. Former Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe is excited about the idea of transforming a race track into a baseball field.
Plouffe, best known for his time with the Minnesota Twins, has been a prominent figure in baseball even after his retirement prior to the 2019 season. He discussed his excitement about the potential game on the "Baseball Today" show, hosted by Chris Rose on the JM Baseball YouTube channel.
“I really do believe it could be an awesome event if they can again like sort of recreate an atmosphere sphere of a NASCAR race,” said Plouffe. (24:53)
"If they fill it up and can create an atmosphere like a NASCAR race, then I’m very, very much interested," he added.
Plouffe said that while he appreciated the game at Rickwood Field, home to the historic Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, he is even more excited about the Bristol Motor Speedway event. He shared that he previously played in the Appalachian League, and mentioned the team based in Bristol, the Bristol State Liners. He recalled when he drove by the speedway a week before a NASCAR race and saw the area packed with RVs—more than he had ever seen.
The rumored game at Bristol Motor Speedway, though not yet confirmed, is already creating buzz. Combining MLB with NASCAR offers a unique opportunity to attract both sets of fans, potentially drawing a large crowd.
Braves and Reds set to make history with 2025 game at Bristol Motor Speedway
According to the Athletic, the Braves will play the Reds at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2025. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith are scheduled to make an official announcement this Friday
In 2016, Tennessee played Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway, the total attendance for the event was 156,990, the most ever seen in an NCAA football game.
Hosting a Major League Baseball game could surpass this record, challenging the MLB's existing attendance mark. The biggest Major League Baseball crowd until now is 115,300 spectators at an exhibition game played at the Los Angeles Coliseum in March 2008.
As MLB and Speedway Motorsports finalize their preparations for this historic game, excitement grows for a memorable event to take place at one of NASCAR’s iconic venues.