The launch of Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track was held Kingston, Jamaica, from April 4-6, 2025. However, it has sparked fierce backlash, with critics calling it a “grand flop” and questioning its long-term viability.
The Kingston opener had everything: National Stadium’s iconic setting, elite sprinters like Thomas and McLaughlin-Levrone, and a modern format.
The most scathing critique came from Diamond League Founder Patrick Magyar, in a LinkedIn post titled “From Grand Slam to Grand Flop – A Lesson in What Not to Do with Athletics,”
Magyar criticized the league for favoring flashy spectacle over substance, sidelining traditional fans and disciplines like jumps and throws.
“If you disrespect half the track & field family… it’s more about your ego than the sport… you believe money alone rules athletics… Then what you create is not a vision. You create a Grand Flop,” he wrote.
Magyar accused Johnson of demanding excessive 1996 appearance fees, undermining fair athlete pay standards.
“Johnson didn’t care if other athletes got fair deals, or if meets were compelling for fans,” Magyar claimed.
“As long as his fee was right, everything else was secondary.”
After all, Johnson’s Grand Slam Track is positioned as a direct competitor to the Diamond League, which Magyar helped build.
Yet, even neutral observers agree that the Kingston event fell short of expectations. Despite its high-tech ambitions, the production felt overdone to fans, while some athletes also struggled with the unfamiliar scoring system.
With Miami up next on May 2-4, then Philadelphia and Los Angeles, Johnson’s team now has a chance to rebrand. Organizers promise adjustments, including better fan engagement and clearer event formats.
But the pressure is on. If Miami flops, Grand Slam Track risks being remembered not as a revolution, but as a flashy, well-meant misfire.