Why Cincinnati Reds players see Speedway Classic as 'steppingstone' for MLB expansion

BRISTOL, Tennessee Two summers ago, in the visitors clubhouse at Great American Ball Park, a decorated, veteran big-league player offered an unsolicited suggestion for the rebuilding Cincinnati Reds, who had just set ignominious ballpark records for low attendance.They should move the team to Nashville, he said, eliciting a laugh.Im serious, he said.Reds Speedway Classic Ke"Bryan Hayes Why Cincinnati Reds' Ke'Bryan Hayes has big jersey to fill at MLB's NASCAR-themed gameReds Braves Speedway Classic fans 'No way I was gonna miss this.' Reds fans descend on Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor SpeedwayIts hard to imagine professional baseballs original city would lose its franchise, he was told.No, theyre not moving us, Reds All-Star pitcher Andrew Abbott the other day when he heard that story.In fact, the Reds went on a 12-game winning streak soon after that conversation in 2023, played themselves into a playoff race that didnt end until the second-to-last day of the season, and remain a threat for postseason play two years later.But that veteran players thought the Nashville part anyway didnt come out of nowhere.

A few weeks after his comment, the results of an MLB player survey conducted by The Athletic showed overwhelming support for Nashville as the next city MLB should add a team through expansion.Nashville got a whopping 69-percent of the vote of more than 100 players.

Montreal was second at 10 percent.Abbott was one of the players who voted for Nashville.And as the Reds and Atlanta Braves descended on NASCAR country in Bristol, Tennessee, for MLBs Speedway Classic this weekend, the topic took on renewed significance if only because of the thinly veiled marketing ploy the game represents.Billed in part as the first MLB regular-season game in the state of Tennessee, the one-off event of the 2025 MLB season spotlights perhaps the most fertile ground for the next wave of league expansion.Specifically, Nashville.

But also the wide swath of SEC and ACC country between Cincinnati and Atlanta.Theres nothing in the Southeast besides Atlanta and here, so it would fill that gap a little bit in terms of fan base, said Reds pitcher Brent Suter, who grew up in Cincinnati and visited the Nashville Triple-A ballpark as a visiting player in the minors.

I tell you what: Nashville is a one-of-a-kind city that definitely could be a great expansion candidate.It would make a lot of sense.Abbott, who said he grew up watching NASCAR about three hours from Bristol in Virginia, said the strength of youth baseball talent and high-powered college baseball programs across the South make it a natural for expansion.I do think that theres more definitely left to explore, and I think Bristols a good steppingstone toward that, Abbott said.

I think its a win-win for exposure for MLB.

Its a win-win for us to get the chance to experience that kind of thing.

Kind of like the Field of Dreams Game (in 2022 in Iowa).

Just to involve people that are around there and maybe havent seen us play.

Maybe itll be a breath of fresh air with people and the environment that they see.Reds rookie Chase Burns, the Nashville native who played some of his college career at Tennessee in Knoxville, said he thinks expansion into Nashville would do well.Nashvilles a growing city.

A lot of tourists are there.

Nashville gets a lot of love, said the Reds Speedway Classic starting pitcher (opposite Knoxville-raised Braves starter Spencer Strider).

Im sure it would do just fine.Burns and teammates said that tourist-destination aspect of Nashville strengthens the case for being able to support a team, similar to the way Las Vegas provides a tourist-driven attendance boost for the NHL expansion Golden Knights.The biggest issue putting together a plan might involve where to put the ballpark, Abbott said.And this: A trip to Nashvilles also very fun.

Youd have to make (it clear to players) were here for baseball.

Were not here for what Nashville offers, like the fun downtown.That messaging would be on manager Terry Francona and his staff.Asked about the idea of expansion to Nashville during the Speedway Classic pregame press conference, Francona said, Thats above my pay grade.

Im glad it is, adding:Anything thats good for baseball and Im sure this event is good.

Because Im sure wed all like to grow our game.Im just trying to figure out how were going to score off Strider."This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Should MLB add another team in South? Why Cincinnati Reds say yes.

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