Gabby Thomas, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Andrenette Knight, and Anna Hall stacked the lineup, right? So why did it feel like nobody showed up to watch? Yep, you read that right. Some of the biggest names in track and field, and still… crickets in the stands. What’s going on here? Let’s hit rewind. The Grand Slam Track – a new league dreamed up by Olympic legend Michael Johnson—launched with big promises and even bigger expectations. The debut meet in Jamaica?
Let’s just say it didn’t exactly light the track world on fire. Sparse crowds, star athletes missing, venue issues. Now the second meet has come and day 1 is gone, and while it seems like an upgrade, the question’s still hanging in the air: is this bold new venture really gaining traction, or just treading water in fancy spikes?
May 2nd to 4th, 2025—track fans had their eyes on Miramar, Florida, as Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series rolled into town. The stage on day 2? The Ansin Sports Complex. The headliner? Kenny Bednarek. The two-time Olympic silver medalist turned heads on Saturday (May 3) with a lightning-fast, wind-aided 9.79 in the 100m, holding off Jamaica’s Oblique Seville (9.84) and Ackeem Blake (9.85) in a loaded sprint showdown.
With the 200m, his bread and butter—on deck for Sunday, Bednarek’s form had fans thinking, “This is can’t-miss stuff.” But here’s the twist… were people there to witness it live? That’s where things get a little fuzzy. Sure, the vibes looked strong on screen—and honestly, even in the stadium, at a glance, things seemed lively. The crowd was cheering; the energy felt decent… until you looked a little closer.
Grand Slam Sold Out https://t.co/4lfSnebiDx
— The Erin Brown (@TheErinBrown) May 3, 2025
Reports say over 50% of tickets (including VIP) were sold, but let’s not forget—this venue only holds about 5,000 people. So yeah, it looked packed, but in reality, it wasn’t. The visuals gave sold-out energy, but the numbers told a different story. Then came the post that had everyone talking. Eric Brown shared a photo of the crowd on X of Grand Slam Track day 2, captioning it, “Grand Slam Sold Out.”
Sounds like a celebration, right? Not quite. Fans quickly picked up on the sarcasm—some laughing along, others defending Michael Johnson’s league, saying the noise and energy did feel legit this time. So what’s the real story? A sold-out show or just a sold-out illusion?
Underwhelming turnout or just a small venue, fans know the real story behind the Grand Slam track
One fan nailed it: “Now that Grand Slam has hit home turf, it’s clear Jamaica didn’t deserve all the criticism. The Miami turnout so far has been underwhelming.” And honestly? That fan’s got a point. Let’s take it back to where it all began—Kingston, Jamaica. Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track made its debut at the iconic National Stadium from April 4–6, 2025. Sounds like a big deal, right?
Well, it was—but not without controversy. The stadium seats 35,000, but with only about 8,000 fans showing up, the place looked more like a ghost town than a grand kickoff. Social media had a field day dragging Jamaica for the “empty” crowd. But here’s the thing most people missed. Flash forward to Miami, and suddenly everyone’s hyped over Michael Johnson’s league.
The vibes looked great; the crowd seemed loud—and why? Because the venue in Miramar only holds 5,000 people. So even if every seat was filled, that’s still less than Kingston’s 8,000. But because it’s a smaller space, it looked like a full house. Meanwhile, Kingston’s bigger crowd in a bigger stadium just got lost in the empty seats. One fan chimed in, saying, “I’d hope the venue is the smallest they’ll run in.”
And honestly, they’re not wrong. For now, it’s the smallest, but let’s keep our fingers crossed that Day 3 sees those 5,000 seats packed. As of now, we don’t have exact numbers for how many showed up in the Grand Slam track in Miami, but from what we could see, a few seats looked empty. That being said, there’s still hope for a last-minute rush—Miami’s known for pulling in ticket buyers at the eleventh hour.
And the commentary kept rolling in. One fan added, “Not to mention, it’s a small-ass venue.” Another pointed out, “While the attendance seems great at first glance, it’s still not better than what we saw in Jamaica.” It’s all about perspective, right? The small venue in Miami might look packed, but when you compare it to Jamaica’s bigger stadium, the contrast is hard to ignore.
One more fan threw in their two cents, saying, “This needs to see drastic improvement as the competition heads to other cities.” And let’s be real—they’re not wrong. When Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track kicked off, Michael Johnson was questioned left and right about why he chose to debut the event in Jamaica instead of somewhere in the U.S.
After all, it seemed like a risky move, but looking back, it turns out Jamaica might’ve been the right call. The turnout there was far stronger than what we’ve seen on American soil so far. Now, all eyes are on the next stop: Philadelphia’s Franklin Field, which holds over 50,000 spectators. Filling that massive venue? Yeah, that’ll be a big deal. It’s the true test to see if GST is ready to make its mark.
Johnson’s been clear: the league’s long-term success depends on ticket sales, broadcast deals, and sponsorships. And they’ve already secured broadcast deals in 189 territories, so they’re serious about growing the sport globally. The real question now is: Can Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam track deliver the goods? Can it bring in the crowds and create an experience that takes track and field to the next level? Time will tell, but the foundation is being set.
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