Though rain dampened the MLB Speedway Classic, the setting at Bristol Motor Speedway created a spectacle for many memorable images.
Major League Baseball set an all-time attendance record for a single game with the MLB Speedway Classic held at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee with 91,032 tickets sold for the event originally scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 2.
However, the event was postponed by rain with less than one inning completed after a 2 1/2-hour rain delay, forcing the game to be played on Sunday afternoon. Noticeably fewer games returned to Bristol when the game resumed, which casts doubt on the actual attendance figure. Nonetheless, the setting created a spectacle for MLB and those who attended the historic event.
Pregame pageantry
Organizers took major steps to make the Speedway Classic feel like a special event. Pregame introductions were far more extravagant than what would be seen for a typical regular-season MLB game. Festivities included a flyover by four U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets from Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach.
Great spectacle, not a great view
Fans sitting behind the outfield wall were further from the field than usual with the Bristol Motor Speedway track between the fence and seating sections.
Hall of Famers in the rain
Reds icon Johnny Bench and Braves legend Chipper Jones threw out the ceremonial first pitch for Saturday's event under soggy conditions. The setting became even less than ideal when the game was postponed until Sunday due to rain.
Fewer fans returned after postponement
Understandably, many fewer fans returned to Bristol Motor Speedway when the MLB Speedway Classic resumed on Sunday after being postponed due to rain. Travel arrangements and lodging accommodations surely compelled several spectators to return home, especially with workdays looming on Monday.
Bristol Motor Speedway swallows the baseball field
Just how big is the race track at Bristol Motor Speedway? For those unfamiliar with auto racing or the venue itself, the baseball field that the Braves and Reds played on took up half of the infield. That created a unique visual setting, while also allowing other events surrounding the game — including concert performances by Tim McGraw and Pitbull — to be held inside the arena.
The Colossus looms
Some might have questioned why the baseball field was built on one side of the infield at Bristol Motor Speedway, rather than positioned in the middle of the racetrack.
Besides allowing for the outer bowl of the venue to be situated behind the outfield, the playing surface also had to be placed away from "Colossus," the enormous scoreboard and LED screen suspended above the infield. Colossus was in foul territory, where it couldn't interfere with balls in play.
The Home Run Car goes racing
The combination of auto racing venue and baseball game may have best been displayed by the Home Run Car that raced around the Bristol Motor Speedway track after a home run. The car, with a flag saying "HOME RUN" waiving out of the passenger side window, drove around the track twice on Sunday with Eli White hitting two home runs for the Braves.
Checkered flag waves for Eli White
Braves outfielder Eli White was responsible for all four runs in Atlanta's 4-2 win over the Reds with two home runs. He received the MLB Speedway Classic trophy with a checkered flag signifying the event's race track setting waving behind him.
Though rain dampened the MLB Speedway Classic, the setting at Bristol Motor Speedway created a spectacle for many memorable images that established a new standard for future showcase events in non-traditional settings for Major League Baseball games.
Category: General Sports
