Michael Johnson Cancels Los Angeles Grand Slam Track Amid Financial Struggles

Michael Johnson has canceled the final leg of his Grand Slam Track series scheduled in Los Angeles amid financial and operational difficulties, including poor ticket sales, limited broadcast interest, and insufficient sponsorship. The series, launched in 2024 with $30 million raised and promises of $100,000 prizes for race winners, aimed to revitalize track and field with a fresh format involving contracted runners competing twice over a weekend. Despite featuring Olympic stars like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the league has struggled to draw crowds and maintain viability, leading to the cancellation of the LA event and an emergency Zoom meeting with athletes and their agents to address concerns. USA Track and Field also removed its LA Grand Prix event, citing the impracticality of hosting two major meets in Los Angeles within three weeks. Organizers are looking towards 2026 with hopes of securing new investors and partnerships to sustain the league, but the immediate future remains uncertain. The emergency meeting is partly to reassure athletes about payments and the league’s commitment, despite the challenges of low attendance and financial instability.