Grand Slam Track, the new startup track league founded by Michael Johnson, will cancel its final meet of the season, the Los Angeles Slam, sources told Runner’s World on Thursday morning. The event was originally scheduled for June 28-29 at UCLA’s Drake Stadium.
Sources confirmed that the league had concerns about the venue deal in Los Angeles. The league will turn its efforts to the 2026 season and new partnerships and investors are expected to be announced in the near future. UCLA declined to comment.
Summer Running Gear press release.
“The decision to conclude the inaugural Grand Slam Track season is not taken lightly, but one rooted in a belief that we have successfully achieved the objectives we set out to in this pilot season, and the importance of looking towards 2026 and beyond,” said Johnson, the commissioner of the league.
“The global economic landscape has shifted dramatically in the past year, and this business decision has been made to ensure our long-term stability as the world’s premier track league,” Johnson continued. “We are in conversations with potential host cities—many of whom have already thrown their names in the hat—to build out an exciting calendar of events for our fans across the globe. We are committed to calling Los Angeles home, and look forward to hosting a Slam in LA as part of the 2026 season.”
Full refunds will be given to those who bought tickets for the Los Angeles Slam, which will be automatically processed within 10 to 14 business days.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek were named “Racers of the Year” for having the most points across the three events, which are earned by finishing place.
The league has marketed itself on prioritizing head-to-head competition among athletes and offered a large prize purse. Winners of each “Slam” event group earned $100,000 in prize money at each meet, except the long-distance group at the Philadelphia Slam from May 31- June 1. The league also hosted meets in Kingston, Jamaica (April 4-6) and Miramar, Florida (May 2-4).
Some critics have voiced concerns about the financial viability of the league. Large sections of the stadium were empty at the Kingston Slam, and television ads were minimal during many of the broadcast windows.
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“If I had an investor who said, ‘Well, I need it to be profitable in year two,’ I would not take their money because that’s impossible,” Johnson told Runner’s World in June of 2024. “It’s just not going to happen. Our investors have come on and said, ‘Hey, we believe in the long term viability of this.’”
DAA Industry Opt Out Runner’s World. He’s a former all-conference collegiate runner at Winthrop University, and he received his master’s degree in liberal arts studies from Wake Forest University, where he was a member of one of the top distance-running teams in the NCAA. Kahler has reported on the ground at major events such as the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials, New York City Marathon, and Boston Marathon. He’s run 14:20 in the 5K, 1:05:36 in the half marathon, and enjoys spotting tracks from the sky on airplanes. (Look for colorful ovals around football fields.)
