Businesses in Bristol, Tennessee, are gearing up for an influx of visitors this weekend as they get ready for the Speedway Classic. The event, set to take place at Bristol Motor Speedway this Saturday, is anticipated to draw a crowd of nearly 85,000 attendees.
Local businesses around Bristol are making accommodations for an influx of tourists.
Near the speedway, the Bristol Campground has been in business for 28 years, typically seeing a majority of its business for the annual NASCAR races.
This weekend, owner Bill Gaines said he’ll be opening the gates to parking for game attendees.
“We could accommodate about 10,000 vehicles, but with our 2,700 campsites—of which 100 are already booked—we have almost unlimited space,” noted Gaines.
Downtown on Piedmont Avenue, the Blackbird Bakery is looking forward to some new customers.
Manager Brandon Price says Bristol has an old, classic charm to it — something blackbird can attest to.
“Downtown Bristol is a charming, vintage area with many older buildings,” explained Price. “As one of the largest bakeries here, Blackbird frequently experiences significant foot traffic.”
Price added that, aside from the game this Saturday, Bristol has several events that bring in tourists.
Price added that while there are smaller car shows in the vicinity that attract visitors, the Classic event at the raceway is a major occasion expected to draw even more people shortly.
Gaines says the Speedway Classic attendance will be like nothing we’ve seen in years.
“This event is a one-night endeavor, unlike the continuous races or football games, but I still anticipate a substantial number of vehicles here,” Gaines commented. “I checked ticket sales on my way back and saw that over 85,000 tickets have been sold, which is an impressive turnout for such an event. There is a palpable excitement, and I’m thankful for that.”
