To borrow a famed quote from the late Stuart Scott, fan-favorite host of ESPN SportsCenter, this latest news surrounding the MLB Speedway Classic presented by BuildSubmarines.com is as “cool as the other side of the pillow.”
This summer, ESPN SportsCenter is taking its ‘Big Show’ back on the road for the first time in two decades, the network announced today. The show will make 50 stops in 50 states and the stop that will represent the Volunteer state of Tennessee will be at iconic Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2.
SportsCenter: 50 States in 50 Days, a nationwide tour designed to bring ESPN’s flagship news and information program directly to fans across America, kicks off in Washington D.C. on Friday, June 27 with host Scott Van Pelt at 5 p.m. ET.
The 37th stop of the seven-week long celebration will be at Bristol, Tennessee, home of The World’s Fastest Half-Mile, where a state-of-the-art baseball diamond and field will be installed in the infield of a legendary motor racing bullring where so much NASCAR history has been made.
The Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds will set out to make history in a brand-new chapter for the multi-use sports and entertainment venue that night when they play the very first official National or American League game in the state of Tennessee.
“We are thrilled that ESPN has decided to make the MLB Speedway Classic presented by BuildSubmarines.com at Bristol Motor Speedway a stop on its SportsCenter: 50 States in 50 Days tour,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “We can’t wait until we hear the words “Play Ball!” that night and the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds make some Tennessee history by playing the state’s first official Major League Game here inside the Last Great Colosseum.”
SportsCenter hosts Ryan McGee and Marty Smith will headline the ESPN SportsCenter stop at Bristol for the MLB Speedway Classic during the Weekend SportsCenter show on Saturday.
Some of the other 50-50 SportsCenter stops along the way include:
- Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, New York on Friday, July 4
- MLB Home Run Derby, Georgia on Monday, July 14
- The ESPYs, California on Wednesday, July 16
- WNBA All-Star Weekend, Indiana on Friday, July 18
- Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Cup Series race, Delaware on Sunday, July 20
- Back to Football Weekend with the Washington Commanders, Virginia on Saturday, July 27
- Savannah Bananas, Colorado on Saturday, Aug. 9
- North Dakota State University Football, North Dakota on Monday, Aug. 11
- PGA Tour BMW Championship, Maryland on Wednesday, Aug. 13
- Little League World Series, Pennsylvania on Saturday, Aug. 16
The last time ESPN took SportsCenter on the road for a cross-country tour was 2005. From iconic athletic venues to hometown hidden gems, each stop will spotlight local rivalries, community traditions and the many ways sports unite fans across the country. The shows will feature a mix of live on-site shows and storytelling segments.
Tickets for the MLB Speedway Classic are available by clicking here. Every ticket to the MLB Speedway Classic includes access to a pregame concert featuring country music legend Tim McGraw and Latin sensation Pitbull. The game starts at 7 p.m. and will be televised live on FOX.
