While MLB's 'Speedway Classic' game was a historic and hyped event, many fans in attendance criticized their negative experiences in Bristol.
MLB's Speedway Classic certainly brought some unique spectacles to baseball over the weekend, even with a weather delay that moved the game to Sunday. But the scene in Bristol may have looked better on TV than it really was.
The matchup between the Reds and Braves was hyped as a historic mash-up between baseball and racing, being played on a field inside Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. According to fans who showed up to watch the game in person on Saturday, however, the logistics of the Speedway Classic weren't up to par.
Weather, of course, was out of MLB's control in Bristol. Rain poured down on Saturday night, moving the bulk of the Cincinnati vs. Atlanta matchup to Sunday afternoon. But even beyond the conditions, fans took to social media to criticize the event's food selection, service, seating and more.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Here's what fans had to say about the MLB Speedway Classic experience over the weekend.
MORE: Where MLB Speedway Classic ranks among largest baseball crowd ever
Weather delays MLB Speedway Classic
It wasn't all bad at the Speedway Classic, as there were some terrific spectacles on Saturday evening before the action got underway. The Braves' mascot made a lap around the race track in a bullpen car, while Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson was decked out in Ricky Bobby gear.
It’s Bristol, baby! pic.twitter.com/5VFWo4xQzU
— MLB (@MLB) August 3, 2025
However, the weather quickly ruined what was one of the hyped baseball events of the summer. The game was initially delayed due to rain, the tarp came on and off the field, Spencer Strider was scratched from his start due to the delay, and in the one inning that was played, a thick sheet of rain was coming down.
Austin Hays delivers an RBI single through a small lake in the infield to give the Reds a first inning lead pic.twitter.com/KoZtMAax7l
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 3, 2025
With the action set to resume on Sunday afternoon, the Reds owned a 1-0 lead, but Bristol Motor Speedway will likely be emptier than it would've been in a rain-free Saturday night. And while the difficulties of navigating the weather were out of MLB's hands, fans attending the event weren't happy with their experience on Saturday.
MORE: A look at the NASCAR-inspired jerseys at the MLB Speedway Classic
Fans criticize food service, seating and more from MLB Speedway Classic
Rain delays are rarely fun to be a part of in sports, so it's no surprise that fans didn't enjoy waiting for Braves vs. Reds to get underway on Saturday night. But even while waiting out the rain in Bristol, fans took to social media to share their negative experiences at the makeshift MLB stadium for the weekend.
The lack of food was one apparent issue. Some shared pictures of the "bunless hot dogs" they received, while others posted that the ballpark allegedly ran out of food during the delay.
Major league fail @MLB@Braves@Reds. The Bristol game was the MLB version of Fyre fest. Awful logistics, no food except except bunless hotdogs and cheeseless nachos, multiple shuttles to even get in the stadium & completely unprepared for rain. #filedofnightmares#speedwaytragicpic.twitter.com/bc6gkNPixp
— Lester Tate (@LesterTate) August 3, 2025
Getting random updates from friends at the Bristol Motor Speedway for Braves vs Reds, that all concessions have ran out of food and only have beer and peanuts left. Game hasn’t started yet due to a 2 hour rain delay. Wild. pic.twitter.com/FFv0HKCxF7
— RobotModel3 (@robotmodel3) August 3, 2025
Another issue that fans criticized in Bristol was the overall lack of preparation for a historic crowd. In the days leading up to the Speedway Classic, MLB shared that it was anticipating setting a new regular-season attendance record with over 85,000 tickets sold. But when the thousands upon thousands of fans showed up, areas appeared overcrowded, including long lines.
Sitting in the rain. No food to be found. They ran out before the national anthem.
— Scott Burns (@scotthburns78) August 3, 2025
Bristol Speedway. They knew how many tickets they sold. Ridiculous operation. Fan Zone was nothing but HUGE lines. No food.
Huge mistake going to this game.
People are pissed. Lots leaving
Bristol Speedway Classic was something.
— Joe DiTullio (@DiTullioJoe) August 3, 2025
Tim McGraw ✅
Player entrances ✅
Concessions ❌ (how do you run out before first pitch?)
Traffic ❌
No baseball ❌
Hotels in the area ❌
Ability to walk on the concourse ❌
Can’t help rain, but not the greatest fan experience pic.twitter.com/hItX20QM04
Bristol knows how to handle 90k people, @NASCAR knows how to handle 90k people, @mlb has zero clue how to handle 90k people, the fan zone is a disaster pic.twitter.com/i8atPEAS9A
— Steven Offenbaker (@soffenbaker) August 2, 2025
I was in Bristol tonight and I can’t tell you how pathetic the entire thing was. We waited an hour and a half in the concessions line only for them to run out of most of the food before the game started. #MLBSpeedwayClassic
— Dylan Slemp (@D_Slemp) August 3, 2025
One issue that likely could have been anticipated was fans having seats that were so far away that it was tough to watch the action. With a massive venue that isn't built around the diamond like Bristol Motor Speedway, there were some areas that left fans with a less-than-ideal view.
Great view @MLB#SpeedwayClassicpic.twitter.com/h0MDToZnzG
— taylor fines (@taylorafines) August 2, 2025
I had one of those “awful” seats going around twitter yesterday. Glad I had the awful seats with the roof over my head! The picture makes it look worse than it was! pic.twitter.com/PyYNqTGKcC
— Eric Robbins (@ErcRbns) August 3, 2025
Add in the downpour of rain on Saturday night, and the MLB Speedway Classic likely didn't live up to the hype, outside of the outstanding visuals. By the time the game resumed on Sunday, there were a lot fewer fans in attendance.
The difference a day makes…
— Jaron May (@jaron_may) August 3, 2025
Pic 1: yesterday, nearly 90,000
Pic 2: today, *maybe* a quarter of the attendance
Built to break the MLB attendance record, the Speedway Classic looks like a game at Great American.@WLWTpic.twitter.com/AylSeFOoeP
Category: Baseball
