BURBANK, California — A new track league founded by Michael Johnson has secured a streaming agreement with Peacock and a broadcasting arrangement with The CW, enabling live coverage of all events and weekend race broadcasts for the series planned for 2025.
The Grand Slam Track League has enlisted the participation of 48 athletes, including renowned runners Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas. The league’s inaugural series will kick off on April 4 in Kingston, Jamaica, as part of a four-event schedule.
Johnson, an esteemed four-time Olympic gold medalist, has successfully garnered over $30 million in funding for this initiative. The league is set to offer substantial incentives, including $100,000 prizes for first-place finishers and a total prize pool exceeding $12.6 million. Additionally, competitors will receive undisclosed payments for their involvement throughout the series.
Establishing media partnerships is seen as a crucial aspect of launching the league. The agreement with NBC Sports, which operates Peacock and holds the rights for the Olympics, marks a significant return to track and field after the termination of their streaming contract for the Diamond League meets last year.
The CW, known for its recent partnership with LIV Golf, which concluded due to disappointing ratings, is also involved in broadcasting various sports. This includes prominent events such as Atlantic Coast Conference football and basketball games, alongside NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, and Sheriffs League Partner football from the Pac-12.
Johnson aims to increase visibility for track and field, hoping to engage fans beyond the Olympic cycle and facilitate more high-profile competitions among top athletes. The league’s other events will take place in cities such as Miami, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Runners will compete in categorized groups—sprints, hurdles, middle distance—and will participate in two races over each weekend. The final rankings will be determined by their finishing placements rather than their individual times, establishing champions in each competitive category.
