Grand Slam Track (GST), the professional track league spearheaded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson, has canceled its final event of the season in Los Angeles, set for June 28–29 at UCLA, according to Front Office Sports. The decision comes as the league, which secured over $30 million in funding last year, navigates its inaugural season.
An all-hands meeting is planned for Thursday to address the cancellation and discuss GST’s future. The league has held three meets so far—in Kingston, Jamaica; Miami; and Philadelphia, where the event was shortened from three days to two. Modeled after tennis’s Grand Slams, GST features four major meets, each with six track event categories, and promised $12.6 million in prize money for its debut season. Canceling the LA event could save over $3 million in prize money, plus additional event and travel costs.
In a social media video posted on Thursday evening, Johnson called the cancellation a tough but necessary choice for the league’s long-term viability. He emphasized that GST’s first three meets achieved their goals and that the league is focused on returning in 2026.Sources point to multiple reasons for the cancellation. One mentioned a potential new investor or strategic partner, alongside challenges posed by LA’s “geopolitical climate,” citing anti-ICE protests and federal troop presence in the city. Another source noted issues with the UCLA lease agreement, though Johnson affirmed plans to return to LA next year. Despite these challenges, sources close to GST insist funding is not a concern.
Last year, Winners Alliance, supported by billionaire Bill Ackman, invested $30 million in GST, with total funding reaching $39.5 million by September, per Pitchbook. However, Johnson expressed disappointment over low attendance at the Kingston meet, where many ticket buyers didn’t attend. He noted the two-day format in Philadelphia was a positive change.GST is among several new U.S. track ventures, including Athlos, a women’s-only event backed by Alexis Ohanian, which debuted in New York in September 2024 with over $600,000 in prize money. Athlos has since enlisted stars like Sha’Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas, who also compete in GST, as advisers and owners, with another New York meet planned for October 2025.
New sports leagues, from women’s basketball (Unrivaled) to tennis (Intennse) and golf (TGL), are emerging as investors view sports as a unique asset class. However, track and field struggles for attention outside the Olympics, with the Diamond League offering modest prize money. Johnson’s vision of a compact, high-prize-money track series aims to fill this gap, but its market viability remains uncertain.
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