Michael Johnson’s much hyped Grand Slam Track League is officially coming to streaming, after finally securing a major broadcast deal with The CW and Peacock.
But let’s be real—just because something is on TV doesn’t mean people will actually watch. The new high-stakes track series promises accessibility, big money, and top-tier athletes, but will it be enough to capture mainstream attention?
The announcement that Grand Slam is going to stream on Peacock and the CW Network isn’t a promising start.
Where to Watch? Everywhere (But Does That Matter?)
For years, track fans have begged for better coverage, and Johnson just delivered, sort of. The CW will air the weekend races on cable bundles, while Peacock handles full streaming duties, including Friday exclusives. NBC, which owns Peacock, will air a season highlight show on May 10.
In theory, this sounds like a win. But let’s not forget—track and field has struggled to maintain an audience outside of Olympic years. The CW isn’t exactly known for its sports coverage (it’s current roster includes the much maligned LIV Golf Tour and some NASCAR events), and while is Peacock is growing, it’s still playing catch-up with the likes of Netflix, Amazon and ESPN+. By comparison, Peacock has about one tenth the subscribers of Netflix and is by far the smallest of the seven major streamers.
Will casual sports fans bother to tune in? That’s the million-dollar question for Grand Slam.
A $12.6 Million Prize Pool? Yes, But Will It Be Sustainable?
Johnson isn’t just betting on accessibility—he’s betting on cash. With a total prize pool of $12.6 million (USD) across four events, the league is aiming to be the most lucrative in track and field. Athletes can earn up to $400,000 per season, which is significant in a sport that often sees its top names struggle for financial security.
But here’s the thing—money only keeps flowing if sponsors and broadcasters see a return on investment. If Grand Slam Track fails to generate strong viewership numbers, will this financial model hold up past the first season? Or will it go the way of other ambitious but short-lived sports leagues? History suggests that even well-funded sports ventures often collapse if they don’t quickly establish a loyal audience. As but one of dozens of examples, the XFL failed to get off the ground… three times.
The Schedule: Clear and Accessible (But Will It Drive Hype?)
The season kicks off in Kingston, Jamaica, from April 4-6, before hitting Miami (May 2-4), Philadelphia (May 30-June 1), and wrapping in Los Angeles (June 27-29). The schedule is simple, which is a good thing for track fans and would-be new viewers of the sport:
- Fridays: Exclusive to Peacock
- Saturdays & Sundays: Broadcast on The CW and streamed on Peacock
There’s no confusion about where to watch. But will the competition itself be engaging enough to draw an audience? Track and field’s biggest problem isn’t accessibility—it’s relevance. Outside of the Olympics, fans struggle to stay engaged with fragmented events. Can Johnson’s league change that?
Noah Lyles Still on the Fence
Olympic champ Noah Lyles hasn’t exactly been racing to join. He previously stated he wouldn’t consider it unless a major TV deal was in place. Well, Johnson just delivered one (sort of), but Lyles’ response? Silence.
Johnson, never one to back down from a challenge, took to X with a not-so-subtle jab: “To the doubters and 🤡 (you know who you are), you did it to yourself. Look at the bio!”
Translation? He’s calling out the skeptics, possibly including Lyles. But if Grand Slam Track was truly a no-brainer for elite athletes, wouldn’t Lyles have jumped on board by now? His hesitation raises real questions about whether this league has the long-term pull to keep the biggest stars engaged.
Thanks track fans, for your patience while we negotiated broadcast deals to make @GrandSlamTrack the most accessible track series ever! I appreciate your support!
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) February 4, 2025
To the doubters and 🤡 (you know who you are), you did it to yourself. Look at the bio! 😂
Will This Really Change Track & Field?
Michael Johnson is aiming to make track a year-round spectacle, not just an Olympic sideshow. That’s ambitious, and the Grand Slam Track format does have potential. But history hasn’t been kind to new track leagues. Financial investment, athlete buy-in, and, most importantly, audience engagement all have to align perfectly for this to work.
As it stands now, the only other truly elite circuit, the Diamond League, is mostly based in Europe and Asia, and is heavily backstopped by World Athletics, the governing body of the sport. And the Grand Slam concept found its footing amid criticisms that World Athletics wasn’t creating a financially sustainable ecosystem for its stars.
Here’s the harsh reality: track and field, for all its greatness, has struggled to thrive in a professional league format. The Diamond League, despite having the biggest events on the track schedule and seamless integration with World Athletics’ championships and the Olympics, barely registers on the radar for most sports fans. If that series, with its long-standing credibility, can’t break into mainstream consciousness, why should we expect Grand Slam Track to do it?
A flashy broadcast deal isn’t enough. And this is no flashy deal.
The real question is: can Grand Slam Track build long-term fan engagement and sustain it year after year? The history of niche sports leagues suggests that without a strong foundation, even the best ideas can crumble fast.
The reality is that Grand Slam races will be sandwiched between reruns of Smallville and The Big Bakeover on a backwater station in your cable bundle (if you haven’t cut the cord already); and you probably don’t subscribe to Peacock, as few people do. Although, if you’re reading this, perhaps you will, just to watch a season of the Grand Slam Track League—which you should do.
Will Grand Slam Track be the revolution the sport needs, or will it be another well-intentioned attempt that fizzles out when the numbers don’t add up?
April 4 will be the first real test, but the bigger question remains—will anyone be watching?
