‘MLB version of Fyre fest’: Social media sounds off on Speedway Classic

Credit: AP
Major League Baseball had a novel idea in hosting a game at Bristol Motor Speedway.
It would be the first MLB matchup in Tennessee and the first on a speedway. Years of planning went into executing what was set to be a marquee event that could set new attendance records.
Some also expressed frustration over the limited shuttles to transport fans to the entrance from the farther parking lots. Overall, it was a recurring theme that the stadium wasn’t totally prepared for the record audience.
“Baseball’s my sport, but the way this event was handled was a train wreck,” a Braves’ season ticket holder in attendance told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “The fact that I was hearing more about what was going on from people not at the game — like it was obvious we were in a rain delay. We had been in a rain delay for 45 minutes before they ever said anything (to those in attendance).”
This was a marquee event for MLB, which itself did a nice job arranging the day and turning an iconic NASCAR venue into a makeshift MLB stadium. But the weather simply didn’t cooperate, and the logistics proved difficult.
The game was delayed for 2 hours, 17 minutes Saturday night, then resumed and saw only four outs recorded until entering another delay and eventual suspension. Even during the game, the muddy infield wasn’t suited for play.
Fans flocked to social media to voice their frustrations from Saturday’s game, including bunless hot dogs and cheeseless nachos, along with other logistical issues, including poor sight lines and parking problems.
One compared the Speedway Classic to the notorious Fyre Festival, which had its own Netflix documentary because of its issues.
“The Bristol game was the MLB version of Fyre fest,” a spectator wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Awful logistics, no food except except bunless hotdogs and cheeseless nachos, multiple shuttles to even get in the stadium & completely unprepared for rain.”
Here’s a sampling: