by Deji Ogeyingbo
What is Grand Slam Track? What to expect in its first entire season of innovation to transform Track?
We are finally here. The self-acclaimed league, or in this case, slam (I’m tempted to think that the name was coined from the Tennis Slams) that has taken it upon itself to change the ‘broken’ nature of Track and Field will get underway in Kingston, Jamaica, this week from April 4th-6th, 2025.
With promises of high-stakes competition, a fresh format, and significant athlete incentives, GST is positioning itself as a game-changer in the sport. But what exactly is GST, and how does it compare to the long-established Diamond League? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Grand Slam Track?
Grand Slam Track is a newly launched track and field league that offers an alternative to the Diamond League. Unlike traditional one-day meets, GST presents a structured format inspired by major professional sports, focusing on head-to-head competition among the world’s best athletes. It aims to provide bigger financial incentives, streamlined scheduling, and more entertainment-driven events that cater to both hardcore fans and casual viewers.
Who is Behind Grand Slam Track?
GST is the brainchild of former elite sprinter Michael Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most respected figures in athletics. Johnson and a team of investors and industry professionals envisions a league that elevates the sport’s profile, improves athlete earnings, and enhances the viewing experience.
Which Athletes are signed to Grand Slam Track?
Grand Slam Track (GST) has signed some of the biggest names in athletics, including American stars Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas. In total, six reigning Olympic champions have joined GST: McLaughlin-Levrone, Thomas, Quincy Hall, Cole Hocker, Marileidy Paulino, and Masai Russell. The league has also secured the full 2024 Olympic podiums in three highly competitive events—the women’s 100m hurdles (Russell, Cyrena Samba-Mayela, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn), men’s 400m (Hall, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Muzala Samukonga), and men’s 1500m (Hocker, Josh Kerr, Yared Nuguse).
Despite these signings, GST has yet to secure the world’s biggest track stars, including Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles and World 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson. Both could still join as Challengers, but their absence is notable, especially since GST’s tagline is “Only the Fastest.” The league also lacks the fastest woman in the world, Julien Alfred, among its Racers for 2025.
Where can you watch it?
Grand Slam Track (GST) has secured major broadcast deals to ensure fans can watch its events. In the U.S., The CW Network will air the slams, while Peacock will be the exclusive streaming service. NBC Sports will also provide highlights on May 10. Internationally, Warner Bros. Discovery holds the rights, with TNT Sports broadcasting in the UK and Ireland, and Eurosport covering Europe and Asia. Discovery Plus and HBO Max will be the streaming platforms outside the U.S.
This is a crucial step for GST, as strong TV deals help generate revenue. U.S. fans are pleased since Peacock and The CW are widely accessible, especially with the Diamond League moving to the pricier FloTrack in 2025. However, international fans are frustrated with GST’s high streaming costs compared to free Diamond League options. GST’s focus remains on the U.S. market, with all events in North America after a failed attempt to secure a London venue.
Who are the Challengers and how do they strengthen the Fields?
A big update to GST was the announcement of new challengers in each event. Notable additions include sprinter Dina Asher-Smith and middle-distance runner Emmanuel Wanyonyi.
Initially, it seemed unlikely that GST would bring in more big names because they had already signed many top athletes. However, adding challengers improves the competition and ensures the contracted GST athletes don’t just dominate every race. More talent makes the races more exciting and unpredictable, which is important for fans.
This also helps fix a previous criticism of GST: the way they grouped athletes into specific event categories. Some athletes were assigned events they don’t specialize in, which created mismatches. For example, the men’s short-distance category originally had three 1500m runners and only one 800m runner. That meant the 800m specialist would easily win that event but struggle in the 1500m, making the outcomes very predictable. By adding strong challengers like Bryce Hoppel, GST has improved the balance and made the races more competitive.
GST has also made a small but important tweak to the points system. Previously, an athlete could win the overall slam title without actually winning a single race. Now, winners of individual races get extra points, making it harder to win the overall title without finishing first in at least one event. This change makes the competition fairer and more exciting.
What are the Ticket sales looking like?
While the broadcast deals and athlete signings are positive, ticket sales have been underwhelming so far.
GST offers two types of tickets: general admission bleacher seats for just $10 and premium grandstand seats near the finish line, which cost between $60 and $100. With less than 10 days to go before the first slam, most of the grandstand seats remain unsold. There is no way to track bleacher seat sales, but hopefully, more fans are choosing those cheaper options.
Given that this is the first-ever GST event, expectations should be realistic. However, with the big promises GST has made about revolutionizing track and field, empty seats would be a bad look. There is still time for a late rush in ticket sales, but recent trends suggest that demand has been slow.
Final thoughts…
GST has made bold claims about transforming track and field. They have taken big steps forward, particularly with their broadcast deals, but there are still challenges ahead.
One of the biggest concerns remains the event categories. Some athletes are still competing in non-specialist events, leading to predictable outcomes. For example, Gabby Thomas is expected to dominate the women’s long sprints, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the clear favorite in the women’s long hurdles. The structure also prevents some of the most exciting matchups from happening. For example, Jakob Ingebrigtsen will never race against Cole Hocker or Yared Nuguse in a slam because of the way the event groups are set up.
