By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Friday, March 11, 2016

Turner Field is going to be torn down in a matter of months but a couple of weeks before the Atlanta Braves' final opening day there, NBC is taking over the baseball stadium for a regional qualifying round of its summer hit "American Ninja Warrior."

Anyone is welcome to attend and cheer the competitors. You just need to sign up here to get free tickets.

Taping is set for Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19.  Some time slots are already in "waiting list" mode. And warning: taping on both nights is expected to go late into the night. (If you can stay up, plenty of seats are available for 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. both days.)

The rigorous reality competition show, in its eighth season this summer, drew 7.44 million viewers last year, including DVR usage up to a week. It was the 76th most popular prime-time show last year, sandwiched between CBS's "Big Brother's" Sunday edition and ABC's "Nashville."

The winner each year takes home $500,000.

The season debut is set for Wednesday, June 1. at 8 p.m.

For more info on the upcoming season of "American Ninja Warrior" premiering this summer, check out the NBC press website at www.nbcumv.com.  Follow on Twitter @ninjawarrior.

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