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via Imago

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The inaugural MLB Speedway Classic roared to life in Tennessee with a spectacle unlike any regular-season game. Well, this wasn’t just baseball, but it is an ongoing festival. Yes, from electrifying live performances by Pitbull and other artists to players making a dramatic entrance via the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway, the event promised fans an experience they’d never seen before. Designed as a grand celebration of the sport, the night blended the thrill of baseball with the energy of a showpiece event.

However, amid the fireworks and fanfare, not everyone seems on board. A section of the audience felt Major League Baseball might have gone a step too far, with the flashy motorcade and over-the-top presentation drawing mixed reactions. So, what began as a bold attempt to redefine the game-day experience risked leaving some purists questioning if the spectacle overshadowed the sport itself. So, what’s the issue here? The pre-game events or the grandeur of the game?

The Braves and Reds take a lap around Bristol Motor Speedway before the Speedway Classic.” FOX Sports shared this caption with a small clip showing a motorcade rounding the speedway with the players, like Elly De La Cruz, on it, waving at the fans.

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Well, if you find it reminiscent, you surely are not the only one. For once, you will find it similar to some country heads leading a national parade. But no, we are in the middle of a regular game between the Braves and Reds. And that is something that might have rubbed the fans the wrong way. Surely for MLB, overdoing the things!

And guess what  — the parade just had a safety car leading it! Yes, just like how NASCAR starts a race. The only difference is that it is now leading the bunch of MLB players around the speedway. Again, it might look good, but overdone for a few fans.

For those unaware, the Speedway Classic is a first-of-its-kind event in MLB, teaming up with a NASCAR track for a truly unique experience. Naturally, there will be a few firsts that might feel odd to baseball purists. But at the end of the day, the entertainment factor is what draws in the audience. And many of these new elements will probably get smoother as future Speedway Classics roll out.

And right now, it feels like another chapter in the ongoing tug-of-war between traditional baseball fans and the new generation that craves more spectacle around the game. Well, let’s not forget, this is the first time Tennessee gets to host a live MLB game. That makes the star-studded showcase even more special for local fans.

What’s your perspective on:

Is MLB's Speedway Classic a thrilling innovation or just a flashy distraction from the game?

Have an interesting take?

Fans are calling out a few odds in the Speedway Classic

Pre-game gimmicks and antics are entertaining, but overdoing it? Nope, a few fans are not agreeing!

Is the pre-game event even needed for the fans to enjoy a good, thrilling MLB game? Or is it just because of the Speedway Classic happening for the first time? “This whole pre-game shtick is awful.” One fan seems to be all against it. Well, from a traditional baseball standpoint, the game itself is the centerpiece, and anything that distracts from first pitch to final out can feel like a gimmick. Moreover, purists argue that too many pre-game spectacles risk turning MLB into more of a show than a sport. However, a festival-like atmosphere brings in casual fans and can turn a single game into a full-day experience, especially for cities that don’t get MLB action often.

But again, despite all the needs for marketing gimmicks in the modern world, baseball still stands for that nostalgic aura for the majority of the fans. And hence, one fan remarked, “Well, that was embarrassing.” Baseball has long prided itself on its history, ritual, and the almost meditative flow of the game. So anything that feels like a marketing ploy can seem out of place. If you can recall, players wearing colorful cleats are still controversial among the fans. So yes, the extensive grandeur of how the players get introduced in the Speedway Classic falls on the wrong side of a few.

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Now the question is, should fans pay for the entertainment gimmicks or the main event game? The ticket price for the Speedway Classic starts from $23 and goes as high as $1800. “Dumb! Another money grab.” One fan thinks the gimmicks designed by MLB are just to justify the high ticket price, and it is not connected with the pure on-field game experience. That’s a fact, considering how a regular-season game just got hyped to be the most attended one in MLB history with the help of marketing gimmicks and eventful nights. The main event game is just one part of it!

The introductory roadshow of the players also looked odd for a few fans because the game is not a championship series. But a regular-season one. “Taking laps like they’re chasing a pennant and pole position at the Speedway Classic!” One user commented about how it feels like the Reds and Braves are set to play a divisional championship game or a World Series. It is not normal for the fans to see such an introduction in a regular series game. But again, the Speedway Classic is a one-off, and the first time a live baseball game is organized in Tennessee. That’s a reason for introducing the players for the first time to the audience.

This pregame stuff is unnecessary and plain garbage.” One fan feels the extensive pre-game, especially that introduction of players by motorcade, is plain extra and nothing important. Yes, maybe, but many gimmicks are meant to sell tickets, merchandise, or sponsorships rather than enhance the game. Just when we see NFL and NBA games get eventful receptions with the programs in the mid-show and other fan-engagement activities, it becomes important for MLB to stay relevant among the new-age fans. And that’s where the Speedway Classic falls!

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Nevertheless, the game is on, and that too in front of a record-breaking crowd. Baseball is currently in a transformational mode and increasingly embracing a more modern take. So, a few things might just get normal with time in the future.

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Is MLB's Speedway Classic a thrilling innovation or just a flashy distraction from the game?

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