BRISTOL, TN (WCYB) — The Paramount in downtown Bristol buzzed with excitement Friday night as fans gathered for a special live show featuring prominent figures from Atlanta sports. The event, hosted by the Atlanta Braves, set the stage for an unforgettable weekend leading up to the MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The live show featured former Braves pitcher Mark Wohlers, a member of the 1995 World Series Championship team, former NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip, and Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello. Attendees enjoyed music from Carson Peters & Iron Mountain and participated in Braves-themed games.
“When Marcus Smith and Speedway Motorsports team announced that Bristol Motor Speedway was going to host the MLB game, I said give me tickets,” said Waltrip. “I really want to check it out and going out to the field today standing at home plate seeing how cool it looks.”
The fan event offered a unique experience with autograph sessions, photo opportunities, and insights from the special guests.
“I just think, you know, when they can go outside the big cities, you know, get a little bit closer, you know, where fans might not be able to get down to Atlanta or some other big cities or maybe afford to go down there,” said Wohlers. “So I think it’s just a great way to expand the Major League Baseball fan base and bring baseball to them.”
Proceeds from the night supported The Paramount, a nonprofit venue that has served Bristol for nearly a century. For fans, the night was about more than just baseball.
“I think people are going to be talking about this game for a long time,” said Vitello. “It’s not just a national event; it is literally a global event tomorrow that will be taking place. It’s going to be a monstrosity. They call it the great colosseum for a reason, and I think it’s going to live up to its name.”
The game at Bristol Motor Speedway will make history as the first Major League Baseball game ever played in Tennessee. A crowd of over 85,000 is expected, and the game will air nationally on FOX.
