MLB made history with a 2025 matchup between the Braves and the Reds. The teams were set to play a three-game series in Cincinnati, but instead of a regular final game, it was moved to a neutral site.
MLB had the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee converted into a baseball stadium. The playing field was built on the infield of the track. The design incorporated some seats around the home plate area, but then the plan was to utilize the stands of the racetrack. This allowed for a much higher seating capacity than what we are used to seeing from baseball stadiums.
Here’s the first look at an official MLB field inside a NASCAR track 🤯
The Speedway Classic will take place next Saturday, Aug. 2nd between the Braves and Reds pic.twitter.com/lJ5f027TKd
— MLB (@MLB) July 25, 2025
Here is how the Speedway Classic ranks among the largest baseball crowds in history.
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What is the highest attendance for an MLB game?
The Speedway Classic is expected to have a capacity exceeding 85,000. Dodger Stadium has a capacity of 56,000 fans, so the Speedway Classic would already greatly clear any regular-season baseball game. The Bristol Motor Speedway has 146,000 seats. Not all of them are expected to be filled, but there is a solid chance that the final attendance tally eclipses 105,000 fans.
The highest attendance for an MLB game didn’t even count in the standings. It was a preseason exhibition game between the Red Sox and the Dodgers, but it was held at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. It had a reported attendance of 115,300. The highest attendance for an MLB game that actually counted was 92,706 from Game 5 of the 1959 World Series between the Dodgers and White Sox, which was also at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.
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Most attended MLB games ever
Here are the top 10 MLB games, excluding exhibitions.
| Rank | Attendance | Matchup | Date | Game Type | Stadium | Capacity |
| 1 | 92,706 | Dodgers vs. White Sox | 10/6/1959 | WS Game 5 | L.A. Coliseum | 94,500 |
| 2 | 92,650 | Dodgers vs. White Sox | 10/5/1959 | WS Game 4 | L.A. Coliseum | 94,500 |
| 3 | 92,394 | Dodgers vs. White Sox | 10/4/1959 | WS Game 3 | L.A. Coliseum | 94,500 |
| 4 | 80,227 | Rockies vs. Expos | 4/9/1993 | Opening Day | Mile High Stadium | 80,000 |
| 5 | 78,672 | Indians vs. Yankees | 4/5/1996 | Opening Day | Cleveland Stadium | 80,000 |
| 6 | 73,290 | Indians vs. Mariners | 4/4/1994 | Opening Day | Cleveland Stadium | 80,000 |
| 7 | 73,290 | Indians vs. Red Sox | 4/7/1992 | Opening Day | Cleveland Stadium | 80,000 |
| 8 | 72,086 | NL vs. AL | 8/9/1981 | All-Star Game | Cleveland Stadium | 80,000 |
| 9 | 57,099 | Mets vs. Yankees | 7/3/2009 | Regular Season | Citi Field | 55,000 |
| 10 | 56,960 | Dodgers vs. Astros | 10/24/2017 | WS Game 1 | Dodger Stadium | 56,000 |
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Highest attendance for a regular season MLB game
The highest attendance for a regular-season game dates back to 1993. Despite how the franchise has fared in the two decades since, attending Rockies games was once a hot commodity.
When Colorado opened the 1993 season with the Expos, 80,227 people filled Mile High Stadium to watch the game. That broke the regular season record set by the Red Sox and then-Indians at Cleveland Stadium.
The Speedway Classic sold 85,000 tickets early. The expectation is that once the final attendance numbers are tallied, it will set the new record for highest attendance for a regular-season game.
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Most attended World Series game
To find the most attended World Series game, you have to go all the way back to 1959. The Dodgers were taking on the White Sox. Chicago was playing its home games at Comiskey Park, while L.A. was using the L.A. Coliseum. The Dodgers took a 3-1 series lead and had a chance to clinch the series at home.
92,706 people turned out for the game, hoping to witness history, and they did. It likely was not what they wanted, though. Los Angeles lost the game, but Chicago had the first-ever three-pitcher shutout in a World Series. The White Sox’s Bob Shaw, Billy Pierce and Dick Donovan allowed nine hits, but no runs and Chicago won Game 5. The Dodgers were on the road for Game 6, but won 9-3 and clinched the World Series.
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Highest average attendance per game for an MLB team
In 1993, Colorado played its inaugural home games at Mile High Stadium, while Coors Field was being built. The Rockies were an expansion team that first started play in 1993. With the excitement of the new franchise, plus using a stadium typically used for Broncos games, Colorado was able to sell more tickets than they would have otherwise. Through 81 home games that year, the Rockies had a whopping 4,483,500 fans attend games. That averaged out to 55,350 fans per game, a record for the highest average attendance. Colorado pulled this off despite going 67-95 and missing the postseason.
The Yankees got close in 2008, averaging 53,070 fans per game as New York went 89-73 that season and missed the playoffs.
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Comparing MLB attendance records to other sports
Here is how the largest attendance for an MLB game compares to other sports.
Regular season
| League | Attendance | Matchup | Date | Venue |
| NHL | 105,491 | Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs | 1/1/2014 | Michigan Stadium |
| NFL | 105,121 | Cowboys vs. Giants | 9/20/2009 | AT&T Stadium |
| MLB | 80,227 | Rockies vs. Expos | 4/9/1993 | Mile High Stadium |
| NBA | 62,046 | Hawks vs. Bulls | 3/27/1998 | Georgia Dome |
Postseason
| League | Attendance | Matchup | Date | Venue |
| NFL | 103,985 | Steelers vs. Rams | 1/20/1980 | Rose Bowl |
| MLB | 92,706 | White Sox vs. Dodgers | 10/6/1959 | LA Memorial Coliseum |
| NBA | 39,554 | Spurs at Knicks | 6/18/1999 | Alamodome |
| NHL | 28,183 | Flyers at Lightning | 4/23/1996 | Thunderdome |
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