Grand Slam Track Says There Will be a Season #2 in 2026

They don't pay people at the race, this is standard. They do some drug testing and wait a bit to make sure there are no dopers getting money. Often it's a few months after races that things finally get paid out. I once had a race in May that didn't get paid for until December.

Athletes will get paid. They have to. If they don't, this will basically end MJs career, his reputation will be in pieces

There's certainly nothing going on in LA right now that might cause one to hesitate about going ahead with a spectator-dependent event in an already challenging venue, is there?

Sorry, but the reputation of the brand is already in pieces. Cancelling (or as they are embarrassingly calling postponing) one of the four meets in the first season at short notice? Already changing the format during meet 3? All of this PR spin?

It's insulting to the fans. Say "we tried something and it didn't work as well as we wanted". Point blank. I am fine with stepping back, reassessing, and trying to improve the product but don't BS the fans. These are the only people that support this event - no CASUAL fans will ever care about track outside of the Olympics. That is just the facts. So you don't need to try and reach them because it is a waste. So don't lie to real track fans that can see through this BS.

Lost a lot of respect for Grand Slam Track, MJ, Merber, etc. I will tune in next year (if it is even happening), but don't have high expectations from what I have seen this time around.

Nonsense. The meet is not being held on the streets of Compton.

From what people who actually live in LA are saying, you are correct.

I'm elsewhere in the LA Basin, and aside from Downtown, everything is business as usual. The UCLA campus and adjacent area are safe now and it will be in two weeks.

Dodger Stadium is no more than 2 miles from the hot zone and they're back in town playing tonight (and it's Pride night!).

I think there is no more than a 1% chance that this series continues.

I'd put it at 0% but the fact that the UFC survived its early days, then thrived, at least shows that sporting events can survive the death bed, sometimes.

Diamond League - 1, GST - 0 I give GST 0% chance of making it happen in 26. Interesting concept, horrid execution.

Ya. A grand slam season 2 looks like a couple pre/early season meets for up and coming athletes, like the 10 but for sprinters and middle distance runners. No way it comes back as a diamond league challenger. Perhaps they could have one or two marquis events (events eg 100m, not meets) with the kind of prizes they offered this year.

Grand Slam Track™ lol

It’s TRADEMARKED, y’all

Their cans of water are available to buy in the UK

I hope the athletes learn from this year and ask for a % of contract up front.

Wonder how much of the investment went to executive salary's?

Anyone who thought this would be profitable in year one was misguided or got paid up front. When has any sport league made money in their first year? With canceling the finally leaves me wondering if the organizers actually have the stomach to go through the tough startup or the long term planning.

Grand Slam Track = stranded on 3B after a riddle with errors single. Assume next season will be Triple Crown Slam with the full expectation of only a "Sovereignty" type of double.

Wonder what events will get the axe next year? I'm sure the Distance won't be around.

They have to drug test everyone before paying out. It's normal to not get paid for months... unfortunately that's how our sport is.

And why would this make MJ a con artist if the funding comes from outside of him? The con artists would be anyone who claims to invest then doesnt

You've accurately highlighted several things that rankle from an outfit that claims, "We've have been and will be a league dedicated to transparency."

In general, as with people, organizations that are transparent don't have to claim they are.

Tactical racing outside of a championship setting is just not that interesting. There are no stakes to these events other than the size of the athlete's paycheck. While I'm happy they're getting the payday, it doesn't make me excited to watch.