Explained
What -
The League
WHO & HOW -
THE RACERS & RACES
- 6 men’s event groups and 6 women’s event groups:
- Short Sprints
- Long Sprints
- Short Hurdles
- Long Hurdles
- Short Distance
- Long Distance
- 8 competitors in each event group per Slam
- Half of the competitors will be Racers
- Half of the competitors will be Challengers, seeking a spot next season as a Racer
- All competitors in each event group will compete in 2 events per Slam
- The winner of the Slam for each event group will be the competitor with the highest point total across both events contested
Scoring
Competitors 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 competitor 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 June with an emphasis on racing earlier in the season.
- Slam Locations: Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
- Tickets for each Slam event will be available for purchase here beginning on December 6.
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.
COMPETITOR Selection
Criteria
ANNUAL Roster: RACERS
Each year, 48 competitors will be named to the Grand Slam Track League as Racers. These athletes are selected by the Grand Slam Track Racing Committee based on a combination of factors to include the fastest and best in each race group, with a focus on fierce rivalries and thrilling competitive racing. 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.
Factors We Consider
- Four competitors in each race group will be selected as Racers
- Global champions and medalists
- Top 10 rankings
- Global following and fandom
- Existing Rivalries
SLAM-BY-SLAM CHALLENGERS
In addition to the annual roster, 48 additional competitors are selected on a Slam-by-Slam basis to challenge Racers. 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.
Selection Factors
- Global champions and medalists
- Top 20 ranked racers
- Global following and fandom
- Rivals to 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 competitors are paid to race and eligible for the Grand Slam Track prize pool. The difference is that Racers receive an annual base compensation to run in all four slams and promote the league. Challengers are paid a set per Slam 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 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 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 our Racers and scouting for new Challengers, so yes! 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 track storytelling that can be meaningfully and clearly shared in a made-for-television 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 and USA Track & Field, 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? Buy a ticket to our events. You’ll be glad you did.
WHO ARE SOME ATHLETES YOU EXPECT TO BE RACERS? WHO DO YOU EXPECT TO BE CHALLENGERS?
You can find all our signed Racers here on our website. As for Challengers – keep an eye out for announcements by joining our mailing list.
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?
Join our mailing list to get the latest news on this…and if you want to become a sponsor, 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 across the United States! 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? Open roles can be found here.
Have you built this league for the athletes or for the fans?
We’re building this league for our fans and compensating the competitors 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.