Michael Johnson is launching his new monitor league at the moment (June 18), in an try and elevate the game’s international footprint.
Will probably be generally known as “Grand Slam Observe” and its important focus shall be fan-focused storytelling, promotion of monitor’s greatest stars and undiscovered alternatives for fan engagement, sponsorship, and elite competitors.
The league will host 4 annual Slams, in an identical format to golf or tennis, in the course of the spring and summer time season throughout 4 international cities.
The inaugural Slam will happen in April 2025, adopted by the additional three Slams over the summer time months.
Los Angeles will function the worldwide dwelling for Grand Slam Observe, and host one of many Slam occasions. There shall be one additional Slam that can happen in the USA and one other two in worldwide places. They’ll all be over three days.
Michael Johnson (Laureus)
The opposite host cities shall be introduced and celebrated of their respective native markets later this summer time.
“I’m delighted to lastly unveil Grand Slam Observe to the tens of millions of monitor followers all over the world,” mentioned Michael Johnson, the league’s founder who will function Commissioner.
“We’re excited to launch this new platform for the planet’s biggest racers on this sport all of us love. Our group has labored tirelessly to design and construct a product that shall be cherished by followers and supply alternatives for our racers that they really deserve.
“We’re revolutionising the monitor panorama, permitting our sport to stay on the forefront of the sporting world 12 months spherical, and pushing our celebrity racers to interrupt new floor of their private storytelling, aggressive success, and marketability. Grand Slam Observe goes to take our sport to new heights, and we would like you to come back alongside for the journey.”
The primary athlete who shall be competing is US Olympic Champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. She is a double Olympic champion and the world record-holder within the 400m hurdles.
“I’m honoured to be one of many first Racers in Grand Slam Observe,” mentioned McLaughlin-Levrone. “Michael’s imaginative and prescient is obvious, and he’s precisely the chief this sport wants to interrupt new floor. I’m thrilled to be part of this league and sit up for every little thing now we have coming sooner or later.
“I firmly consider that that is the step ahead that monitor must take it to a different degree, and I can’t wait to get to work with the group.”
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Sydney McLaughlin celebrates gold in Oregon (Getty)
So, what’s the format?
Every year, 48 athletes shall be named to the league as ‘GST Racers’. These racers shall be chosen by the Grand Slam Observe Racing Committee and based mostly on a mix of things to incorporate the quickest and finest racers in every race group, with a give attention to fierce rivalries and thrilling aggressive racing.
GST Racers decide to racing in all 4 Slams per 12 months. They’ll obtain an annual base compensation for racing in every Slam and are eligible for full prize cash. These GST Racers will obtain annual contracts, entry to the GST content material and knowledge providers group, inclusion within the league collective, group licensing and new income alternatives, plus entry to world class athlete help providers all through the season.
GST Racers will even be compensated below contract to race and promote the league, whereas receiving further advertising and marketing and branding help.
The remaining 48 racers shall be generally known as GST Challengers and shall be paid a set look payment to compete at particular person Slams. GST Challengers are chosen by the Grand Slam Observe Racing Committee based mostly on a mix of things together with current performances, plus probably the most intriguing athletes and matchups.
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Noah Lyles (Getty)
Racers and Challengers shall be assigned to compete in one of many following classes, and can all race in two occasions throughout every Slam: brief sprints (100m/200m), brief hurdles (100m hurdles or 110m hurdles/100m), lengthy sprints (200m/400m), lengthy hurdles (400H/400m), center distance (800m/1500m), or lengthy distance (3000m/5000m).
The entire rivals’ closing placement rating shall be decided by their mixed ending order between the 2 races.
Within the occasion of a tie throughout the 2 occasions, it is going to be the athlete who had the quickest mixed time throughout the 2 races who shall be deemed the winner. The winner of every Slam group will take dwelling $100,000 in prize cash, and the eighth place competitor will earn $10,000. Grand Slam Observe can have a complete of $12.6m of prize cash that shall be awarded throughout the slams every year along with the bottom compensation and look charges paid to racers.
The main focus of Grand Slam Observe is on head-to-head competitors, not successful occasions. There shall be pacing lights. Every Slam is equally as essential as every other, can have its personal prize purse, and shall be independently scored, with factors and former finishes not carrying over to the next Slams.
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World Champs in Budapest (Getty)
All racers will compete twice over the three-day occasion, and all Slam occasions will meet World Athletics rules, with achieved marks being eligible for rankings and requirements.
Racers will compete in their very own sponsored kits, with out conventional hip numbers or bibs. Racers and Challengers are inspired to work with their sponsors to create customised kits, in their very own desired model.
Grand Slam Observe has no affiliation or sponsorship settlement with any shoe firm; all shoe firms are thought of to be essential stakeholders and companions within the promotion of our racers.
Grand Slam Observe has secured greater than $30 million in monetary commitments from traders and strategic companions for the launch of the league. Winners Alliance, a world, athlete-centric business answer and Johnson’s working associate, was the lead investor within the first fundraising shut for the brand new enterprise.
The funding within the league will help in Johnson’s final purpose: to develop higher engagement with followers by selling monitor and subject’s greatest stars and reaching new audiences with distinctive, modern storytelling.
You can too comply with @GrandSlamTrack on all social media platforms or and go to grandslamtrack.com.
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