Just months into its highly publicized debut season, Grand Slam Track, the much-hyped brainchild of Olympic legend Michael Johnson, abruptly canceled its marquee Los Angeles meet.
The LA season finale became a painful reminder of elite sport’s risks from bold promises.
A Canceled Meet, A Damaged Image
Grand Slam Track intended the Los Angeles meet to crown its successful stops in Kingston, Miami, and Philadelphia.
Instead, it triggered disappointment and doubt across the track and field community. Athletes, fans, and agents were left reeling, with many questioning what this means for the sport’s future and whether they can trust the very figures leading its reinvention.
Anderson Emerole, a loyal supporter of the series who’s attended every meet so far, didn’t hold back his concerns. Speaking candidly on The Final Leg Track and Field podcast, Emerole captured the prevailing mood.
“Optic-wise, this is really bad. Really, really bad for track and field, and really bad for Grand Slam Track because of how it looks.”
For a league marketed as a revolutionary force promising to reshape track and field’s future, failing to see out its inaugural season feels like more than a misstep, it feels like a betrayal.
The Fallout for Athletes, Agents, and Fans
Emerole emphasized that the damage runs deep.
“Fans bought tickets for a full season, athletes signed contracts. Some of them were already saying ‘Yo, I’m competing in Los Angeles,’” he explained.
That sense of commitment, only to be met with a sudden shutdown, could sour relationships not only with athletes and their agents but also with fans hungry for consistent, reliable events.
“And this isn’t to disparage Grand Slam Track in any way,” Emerole clarified.
“But the reality is there are people now feeling like, ‘Damn, we trusted y’all, and y’all couldn’t finish out the season.’”
The blow is particularly sharp because of who’s at the helm. Michael Johnson isn’t an outsider trying to cash in on a trending sport, he’s a legend, one of track and field’s greatest ever, a figure many believed could finally steer the sport into a more lucrative, athlete-centered era.
Why Michael Johnson Pulled the Plug
On June 12, Johnson gathered athletes and agents for a Zoom call where he confirmed what had already begun circulating, the LA meet, scheduled for June 28–29, was canceled. Behind the scenes, spiraling operational costs and an unsustainable financial deal with UCLA had placed organizers on track to lose over $2 million.
“Sometimes we have to make moves that aren’t comfortable,” Johnson admitted.
“But what’s most important is the future and sustainability of the league.”
Johnson remained upbeat about the bigger picture, highlighting milestones like the 30,000-strong crowd in Philadelphia and a young, energized fan base rallying behind the meets.
“The decision to conclude the inaugural Grand Slam Track season is not taken lightly,” Johnson stressed.
“But one rooted in a belief that we have successfully achieved the objectives we set out to in this pilot season.”
Rebuilding Trust Won’t Be Easy
While Johnson insists Grand Slam Track’s story is far from over, hinting at a major new sponsor announcement next week, the damage to his personal credibility among athletes may take longer to repair.
Track and field has long struggled with leadership figures who overpromise and underdeliver. What stings more this time is that the misstep comes from one of its most decorated icons.
Emerole, for his part, hasn’t abandoned hope. He remains a believer in what Grand Slam Track set out to achieve, but acknowledges the uphill climb ahead.
“This isn’t just a scheduling hiccup,” he cautioned.
“It’s a credibility collapse. And rebuilding that won’t just take money or management. It’ll take trust.”
And trust, as track and field fans know too well, is the one currency this sport can’t afford to keep losing.