Explained
What -
The League
WHO & HOW -
THE RACERS & RACES
- 6 groups of male athletes and 6 groups of female athletes
- Short Sprinters
- Long Sprinters
- Short Hurdlers
- Long Hurdlers
- Short Distance Racers
- Long Distance Racers
- Half of the competitors will be GST Racers
- Half will be GST Challengers, seeking a spot next season as a GST Racer
- Each group will compete in 2 events
- The winner of combined results will win the ‘SLAM’ for each group
Scoring
Athletes will receive points for their finishing position in each of their two races. From 1st to 8th place the points are distributed as: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1. The Racer who finishes with the highest total number of points after the completion of both events will be crowned Slam Champion with prize money being paid out to each corresponding place. In the event of a tie, the lowest combined time will be used to determine the winner.
When -
The Season
- Format & Time: Four premier competitions annually from April to September with an emphasis on racing in the early season.
- Racing Locations: Los Angeles, plus one other US city and two International cities.
- Tickets for each Slam event will be available for purchase in the upcoming months. Stay tuned for the announcement of the remaining three cities, which will be revealed in their respective local markets later this summer.
Why -
The Stakes
Season Long Stakes
- Highest combined prize pool for a season of track racing ever.
- Chance to win $400,000 in total prize money over the course of a season.
- Every place matters – we will bring the highest prize pool in the history of track from 1st to 8th place.
Athlete Selection
Criteria
ANNUAL Roster: GST RACERS (48 racers)
In addition to the annual roster, 48 additional athletes are selected on a Slam-by-Slam basis to challenge GST Racers. GST Challengers are chosen by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee based on a combination of factors including recent performances, and the most intriguing athletes and matchups.
Factors We Consider
- Four athletes in each race group will be selected as GST Racers
- Global champions and medalists
- Top 10 ranked racers
- Global following and fandom
- Existing Rivalries
Slam-by-Slam GST Challengers (48 racers)
Each year, 48 athletes will be named to the GST League each year as GST Racers. These athletes are selected by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee based on a combination of factors to include the fastest and best racers in each race group, with a focus on fierce rivalries and thrilling competitive racing. GST Racers commit to racing in all four Slams per year. They will receive an annual appearance fee compensation for racing in each Slam and are eligible for full prize money.
Selection Factors
- Global champions and medalists
- Top 20 ranked racers
- Global following and fandom
- Rivals to GST Racers
Your Questions Answered
WHAT IS GRAND SLAM TRACK FOCUSED ON?
We have one singular focus for Grand Slam Track – rivalry in racing:
- Head to head competition and storytelling is at the core of our entire existence.
- Only one event at a time will be competed and shown on television.
- We are focused on giving track fans the opportunity to see their favorite stars more regularly and in high stakes competition.
- We have the goal to be one of the largest sports properties on the planet.
HOW ARE RACERS COMPENSATED?
Like pro athletes! All of our athletes are paid to race and eligible for the GST prize pool. The difference is that GST Racers receive an annual base compensation to run in all four slams and promote the league. GST Challengers are paid a set per race appearance fee. Both Racers and Challengers are eligible for full prize money.
WHAT OTHER BENEFITS WILL RACERS HAVE ACCESS TO?
The bennies are real... In addition to base compensation and prize money, all GST Racers will have access to the league’s group licensing program, our fan data analytics program to boost their following and understand their fans better, and creative services to support their own personal brand and off the track development. We also have a content team that we’re going to send out to film our athletes while they train, eat, and sleep – well, not sleep, that’s creepy, but you get what we mean... The GST Challengers will get an appearance fee and can win full prize money.
CAN RACERS RACE IN OTHER MEETS?
Absolutely, yes. We want racers running globally in as many meets as possible. We want to support the rest of the track ecosystem in a positive way. More racing!
WILL THE LEAGUE SUPPORT OTHER MEETS AND LEAGUES?
We will be at all of them supporting GST Racers and scouting for new Challengers, so yes! We support other leagues and meets that don’t compete with our format head to head. We believe in supporting the entire meet ecosystem from Diamond League to global championships and beyond. This is an amazing sport that needs more consistent top notch supply.
Why aren’t you hosting field events?
We will only show one event at a time and we will spend considerable time celebrating and dissecting that event in our broadcast. So, we have made the decision to focus on storytelling that can be broadcast in a made for television 3 hour window. We are singularly focused on the racing that we can show fans in that duration.
Is Grand Slam Track working with other athletics stakeholders?
We are working alongside current governing bodies like World Athletics, USA Track and Field, and UK Athletics, plus other stakeholders, to cooperate on the calendar and support the growth of the sport.
Can you run a successful track league without launching with a television deal?
TV conversations are going good – real good. We are in discussions with partners on our media rights, however we have strong financial investors who are backing the long term growth of the league – so we are free to make decisions that strengthen the long term viability and success of the league above all else. We are here for the long haul – full stop.
How much have you raised and from who?
We have $30m in financial commitments from our partners, with primary funding coming from our operating partners Winners Alliance. The team at Winners Alliance have worked across the NFLPA, MLBPA, NWSLPA, NHLPA, pro tennis and cricket to build large athlete driven commercial businesses. We are building a new paradigm for athletes across the globe together.
How long has Michael been working on this? Why now?
MJ has been thinking about this since the days he was training on a hot Texas track way back in 1990 before he became a global icon. Grand Slam Track is three decades in the making. Never has a sports league been so well thought out.
Why now? Well, the sport has the best performers and biggest personalities competing today in its history. Don’t believe us? Tune in to the Olympics this summer and then buy a ticket to our first event. We’ll give anyone their money back if they don’t agree.
Who are some athletes you expect to be GST Racers? Who do you expect to be GST Challengers?
Sydney McLaughlin is our first GST Racer and we’re absolutely thrilled to have her. We want her rival Femke Bol to come aboard and race her four times a year – who wouldn’t want that, right? There are so many amazing racers out there right now from Faith Kipyegon to Shericka Jackson to Sha’Carri Richardson to Noah Lyles to Josh Kerr to Karsten Warholm and more and more and more. We want all of these global superstars and more to join the league.
As for Challengers – heck we’re looking at an amazing crop of athletes coming out to be pro in the next year – we see you McKenzie Long, we see you Nico Young….
What sports leagues do you emulate?
All of them. We are not reinventing the wheel here – we are improving it. We love what other leagues across the globe are doing and we watch them all.
So how do you make money?
We will make money from television and media rights, sponsorship, event day revenue, merchandising, and ancillary revenue streams we build over time. We are compensating our athletes well today to build a great engine for tomorrow.
Who are your media partners and sponsors?
We have had tremendous response from both potential media partners and sponsors for the league. We are in advanced discussions with parties in both categories – stay tuned for some news later this year…..and if you want to sponsor then please, get in touch. We’re looking for the best partners around the globe to help us grow our fanbase.
Where is Grand Slam Track located?
We are a hybrid remote company! We’re headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in NYC, Dallas, London, and even New Mexico! Most of our folks are in LA (we love it) and that will be our spiritual home for the time being.
are you hiring?
Only awesome people – got what it takes?
Why haven’t you announced the other cities or venues?
Let’s be honest? – we need things to talk about later this summer and in the fall.
Let’s be really honest? – We honestly want to celebrate each venue and each city in a unique way to get the community there involved and behind what we’re doing. Sport is a community thing. We are taking Grand Slam Track to the people. Hyper local is hyper important to us.
Have you built this league for the athletes or for the fans?
We’re building this league for our fans and compensating the athletes to put on an amazing show for them. Everyone wins! Come join us in the revolution – Only the Fastest!
This was a fun read, I wanna know more…
Thanks! Stay tuned here, and join our mailing list – and buy some merch will ya! Thanks for reading.