GRAND SLAM TRACK: REINVENTING ATHLETICS FOR THE MODERN FAN

What if we treated track stars like tennis champions?

Alright, Visionaries – picture this: You're flying around the track at top speed, lungs burning, legs pumping... and you've actually got a stadium full of screaming fans AND a proper paycheque waiting at the finish line!

Mad concept, right?

That's exactly what Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track is bringing to our sport. As someone who's spent years chasing milliseconds rather than millions, I've got to say – this revolution is long overdue.

After Kingston's explosive opener last month, I'm buzzing to break down what makes GST a potential game-changer not just for athletics, but for ANY sport looking to level up its commercial game.

THE SPEED READ

• GST has secured $30 million in funding and signed 48 elite athletes to a four-event "Slam" season

• Athletes can earn £100,000 per event win – nearly triple Diamond League payouts

• Broadcast deals include The CW and Peacock in the US, Eurosport across Europe

• Innovative format: No qualifying heats, athletes compete in two events per meet, all finals

• First in Kingston, next in Miami, LA and Philadelphia throughout spring 2025

BREAKING DOWN THE MODEL

Let's be honest – most track meets are a shambles from a business perspective.

I've competed in stadiums so empty you could hear your own footsteps, all while Olympic viewing figures show hundreds of millions actually WANT to watch athletics!

Johnson's diagnosis? Track doesn't have a demand problem; it has a supply problem. Here's how GST fixes it:

1. Scarcity creates value

GST is running just four meets annually. That's it. Each becomes a must-see spectacle rather than "just another track event." Smart play.

When I trained for county and national championships, we'd peak maybe twice yearly. Why? Because you can't maintain top form constantly. GST applies this same principle to the business model – less is more when each event carries weight.

2. Stars guaranteed, every time

No more "will they, won't they" with top athletes. GST contractually ensures the best face the best at EVERY meet. As Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone put it: "Fans deserve to see fantasy matchups become reality."

I've seen too many meets where promoters couldn't afford appearance fees for multiple stars. GST's centralised model solves this by pooling resources across the season.

@grandslamtrack

She doesn't just run the 400mH...she re-writes it.

3. All killer, no filler

Every race is a final. No heats, no semis. Just like boxing's championship bouts or F1's Grand Prix – casual viewers can jump in without needing a sport science degree to understand what's happening.

Plus, athletes double up in their specialist zones (sprinters might do 100m AND 200m). More bang for the spectator's buck!

BREAKING THE CYCLE: MONEY TALKS

The economics here are fascinating. Traditional track meets are caught in a vicious cycle:

• Low viewer interest → Poor media rights deals → Limited athlete pay → Stars skip meets → Even less viewer interest

GST is deliberately disrupting this loop by injecting capital at multiple points:

• For athletes: Base contracts PLUS prize money ensures talent shows up motivated

• For broadcasters: Consistent, telegenic product worth investing in

• For sponsors: Season-long activation opportunities across multiple markets

It's proper venture-capital thinking applied to a century-old sport. As an athlete, the most shocking stat is that nearly 60% of pro track athletes earn under £20,000 yearly. GST's £12.6 million prize pool could genuinely change lives.

BUSINESS TAKEAWAYS: THE MODEL IS THE MESSAGE

Whether you're in sports media, sponsorship, or management, there are brilliant lessons here:

1. Identify supply-demand mismatches

The track audience exists – just not the product they want. Look for sports where fan passion exceeds available content. That gap = opportunity.

2. Format for the attention economy

Two-hour spectacles of pure finals. Perfect for highlights, social clips, and modern viewing habits. What deadweight could YOUR sport eliminate?

3. The superleague approach works when you solve genuine problems

Unlike controversial breakaways in other sports, GST isn't just about enriching the already wealthy – it's addressing structural failures in track. That's why athletes are enthusiastically signing on.

4. Media rights strategy is evolving

GST's dual broadcast/streaming approach (The CW + Peacock) maximises both reach AND depth. Free TV exposure builds audience; streaming serves the superfans.

5. Athlete empowerment pays dividends

By putting competitors at the heart of the business model, GST ensures its best assets are invested in success. When was the last time you saw Olympic champions actively promoting regular-season meets on their socials?

WHAT I'M WATCHING

Kingston's and Miami’s introduction to the format have given us a taste, but I'm particularly interested in seeing:

• Will stadium attendance hold up in US markets?

• Can GST generate viral moments that transcend track's typical audience?

• How will World Athletics and Diamond League respond? Collaborate or compete?

• Will the athlete-first approach lead to unprecedented performances?

The real finish line for GST isn't just creating exciting events – it's proving that track & field can be commercially viable year-round, not just during Olympic fortnights.

For any sport struggling with monetisation between major championships, Johnson's experiment offers a potential blueprint. As he puts it: "Stakes, stars, and stories. That's the recipe."

I reckon he might be onto something. Let's see if those ingredients cook up a winner.

FAST FINISH: THIS WEEK'S SPRINT STATS

• 16: Number of Olympic/World champions competing in Miami next weekend

• £2.8M: Estimated GST social media value generated from Kingston's event

• 40%: Viewership increase for Peacock's stream compared to previous summer and Winter Olympics coverage

• 3: Major sports leagues reportedly studying GST's model for their own "off-season" content strategy

Written by Field Vision, published twice weekly.