BRISTOL, Tenn. (WZTV) — A would-be historic Major League Baseball game — the first ever played in Tennessee — was rained out Saturday and rescheduled for Sunday at noon Central Time.

The MLB Speedway Classic, featuring the Atlanta Braves versus the Cincinnati Reds, was set to make history at Bristol Motor Speedway, a venue much better known for NASCAR races. The game also marks the first time a Major League matchup will be played inside a converted NASCAR track.

More than 85,000 fans bought tickets for the event, breaking the MLB single-game attendance record set 70 years ago. They’ll now have to wait one more day to see the game.

The speedway, nicknamed “The Last Great Colosseum,” was transformed into a ballpark in just four weeks by the same crew who built MLB’s “Field of Dreams” game. The enormous effort included leveling the track’s to-be infield with 18,000 tons of gravel, removing part of a building, and installing dugouts, bullpens, turf, lighting, monitors, and grandstands.

“It’s going to be exciting to see a ball hit into ‘turn one’ and find out if it comes back on the field,” said Murray Cook, MLB’s field specialist tasked with building the field. “The wind just cycles in here, so it’s going to be interesting to see what it does with the ball.”

The one-time event also includes a fan zone with a ferris wheel. But the transformation will be short-lived — Bristol Motor Speedway is set to revert back to its storied track ahead of its next NASCAR playoff race on Sept. 13.

“This is kind of unique — it’s something you’re not going to see often,” said Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott, ahead of the game.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee took to the field for the opening ceremonies. The game marks just the second project to be partially funded through Tennessee’s Special Event Grant Fund, created in 2022 by the legislature. The $25 million fund is awarded in part to events expected to generate at least $10 million in economic impact, create jobs, and showcase Tennessee to global audiences.

Fans from all 50 states and nine countries traveled to Bristol to witness the landmark event in person. After the game, the specially constructed field will be donated to East Tennessee State University.