Reports: Tennessee-Virginia Tech To Play At Bristol Motor Speedway In 2016

Aug 25, 2012; Bristol, TN, USA; General view of the NASCAR Sprint Cup IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Multiple college football reporters are reporting on Wednesday evening that Tennessee and Virginia Tech will play a football game at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2016.

The idea of a football game at Bristol has been floated around for some time.

Tennessee and Virginia Tech playing in the game makes perfect sense. Bristol is halfway between Blacksburg and Knoxville on I-81.

The current record for attendance at a football game is 115,109 at the Big House. The record was set earlier this year when Notre Dame traveled to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan.

If Tennessee-Virginia Tech draws the estimated 155,000, it would obviously shatter the record.

I think the idea of the Vols and the Hokies playing a game at Bristol is a fantastic idea. It’ll be amazing exposure for Tennessee and who knows where the program might be then, under Butch Jones.

This won’t be Jones’ first foray into Bristol. He was the grand marshal for the spring race earlier this year.

Mar 17, 2013; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick (left) meets Tennessee Volunteers head football coach Butch Jones (middle) and his son Alex Jones before the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports