Over the last few weeks, the Grand Slam Track has been blowing up, but not always in the way you’d want. The debut season kicked off just a month ago, in April, and honestly? It’s been a wild ride. The first meeting in Kingston? Huge hype, but way fewer fans showed up than expected. Why? Ticket prices were high, right after Jamaica’s legendary Champs, and some of the biggest stars like Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce didn’t even bother showing up. Then Miami rolled around, and people were hoping for fireworks, but surprise, surprise, Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson skipped the party. Plus, the windy Miramar venue? Not exactly record-breaker friendly. The vibe just fizzled. But things might change now.
Now, all eyes are on Philadelphia and the third meet is just about to happen between May 31 and June 1, 2025. The lineup? Absolutely stacked. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Fred Kerley, Gabby Thomas, Grant Fisher, and Josh Kerr are a who’s who of track royalty. And with The CW and Peacock broadcasting live, this should be huge. But before the first starter’s gun even fires, fans are already griping with Grand Slam Track. Why? Ticket prices. No. attendance problem? No. Parking problem? No. Three-day event problem? No. No on-site parking for the general public? No. Traffic disruptions? No. Because all these problems were cleared by Michael Johnson. But it still has a bigger problem.
Philly’s living costs are sky-high, and those prices aren’t sitting well. Well, yes. As one fan on X posted, “I wanna go to Grand Slam in Philly cause it’s only 2 hours from me but them hotel prices…” with a heartbroken emoji. The Philadelphia event, held at Franklin Field, will be on May 31 and June 1, with May 30 being removed from the calendar. But the cost of nearby hotels is very high. Let’s check out some hotel prices located near the Franklin Field: Holiday Inn Philadelphia-Cherry Hill is about $165.26, Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Penns Landing comes to around $200.45, Four Points by Sheraton Philadelphia Northeast is roughly $187.16, and Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown is about $231.84, definitely on the higher side!
I wanna go to Grand Slam in Philly cause its only 2 hours from me but them hotel prices…
— Katelyn Hutchison (@kxnaomi) May 20, 2025
And it’s not just the fans sweating this. Athletes and their teams? They’re feeling it too. Travel, hotels, and the costs keep climbing, and it’s putting real pressure on everyone involved. Michael Johnson? He’s still all-in on his dream of turning track and field into the next big thing, a fast, flashy, high-stakes league that pays athletes what they deserve. But here’s the million-dollar question: can Grand Slam Track pull off Philly without losing the fans or burning out the athletes? Because right now, it’s stumbling, and the buzz among fans is impossible to ignore.
Dark clouds loom over the Grand Slam Track as prices soar
One fan added, “im finna do is sleep in the Amtrak train station” and honestly, it’s not just for laughs. With hotel prices near Franklin Field soaring up to $200 a night, many fans are feeling completely priced out. For those coming in from out of town, even budget stays are out of reach. And Philly’s 30th Street Station, one of Amtrak’s busiest and most central hubs, is just a short ride from the stadium. Amtrak trains operate at over 500 stations across a 21,400-mile network, including major stops like New York’s Moynihan Train Hall, Chicago’s Union Station, and Baltimore’s Penn Station. So yeah, crashing at the station isn’t just sarcasm, it’s starting to sound like a real survival plan for a fan to attend Grand Slam Track.
Another fan added, “ Like $250 for ONE night is crazy . Im sure I won’t go.” Someone else echoed the frustration: “I was hyped to go but these hotel rates got me crying in my bed.” And honestly, it’s not hard to understand why. Since the Grand Slam Track event is running for two days, fans would have to shell out almost $500 just for accommodation. Let’s do the math: the average annual salary in the U.S. is around $74,738, which comes out to about $6,228 per month before taxes. That means even for the average person, these costs feel out of reach unless you’re making well above the norm.
Another fan added, “Why even host thr if fans cant affrd to be there? Wtf is this?” One more chimed in with, ” They rlly think we got deep pockets? Be fr even MJ can’t expect us to pull up when hotels + tix costin like a whole vacation.” And the frustration doesn’t stop there. One more added, “ Yo im deada*s not spending $220 on a hotel lol imma just catch highlights on YT.” Fans clearly feel that the experience is becoming inaccessible, even though the organizers are trying to meet them halfway.
To be fair, Michael Johnson is doing what he can. The Grand Slam Track’s Philadelphia Slam, originally planned as a three-day event from May 30 to June 1, 2025, has already been condensed to two days, May 31 and June 1, based on feedback from athletes, coaches, and fans. And when you look at ticket prices, they’re relatively affordable: $95.37 for May 31 and $50.47 for June 1. Franklin Field, located at the University of Pennsylvania, has a seating capacity of 52,958. So while Johnson has kept ticket prices reasonable, hotel rates are out of his hands. All we can do now is hope the event still lives up to the hype.
The post Outrages Prices Frustrates Track and Field Fans as Concerns Rise Over Grand Slam Track’s Philadelphia Meet appeared first on EssentiallySports.
