Grand Slam Track had one goal: to revolutionize Track. With Michael Johnson at the helm,  and with a staggering prize pool of 12.6 million, it seemed steadfast on its path to change people’s perception of track events. What’s more, with attractive monetary incentives, including a reward of $10,000 for placing last, in one sense, everyone who runs on the GST Track is a winner! So when Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, two of the biggest names in the sport, were announced as headliners for GST’s highly anticipated Kingston debut, the buzz was immediate. This was supposed to be a moment. A spark. The beginning of something massive. But as the races began, something felt off. And not in a way you could ignore. What happened?

Gabby Thomas, the Paris Olympics champion in the women’s 200m event, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, habitual champion and world record holder, when they take over the track, it is normal to expect nothing but a packed stadium and rounds of thunderous applause. But that wasn’t the case at GST; the empty seats stood out like a sore thumb. The disappointment wasn’t just visual. Whispers from the ground later pointed to a messy overlap with another major event in Kingston, which brought a wave of traffic chaos, parking nightmares, and hotel shortages. But even then, fans couldn’t help but ask how an event of this magnitude starring global icons, and promising revolutionary changes, could be blindsided by something so basic?

As questions swirled about the turnout, the conversation quickly shifted online. And one thread in particular cut through the noise. In a post by Rae’s Take TV on X, the situation was put in perspective. “Can’t really put this on Grand Slam except for not checking the calendar to make sure another event isn’t taking place at the same time… If the Rangers are playing but Taylor Swift got a concert at AT&T… that Rangers stadium is empty, and that 30 west traffic isn’t for the Rangers.” In other words, this wasn’t just a track-specific issue . It was a perfect storm of overlapping events and urban chaos that would’ve kneecapped any major outing, not just Grand Slam Track.

It turns out a massive event just steps away from the venue was pulling both crowds and traffic control in the opposite direction. Fans who planned to be there simply couldn’t get through. One user messaged, “Traffic was so bad it took folks half an hour to get a mile up the road… if you weren’t on the shuttle with the police escort, you were in standstill traffic till halfway through the meet.” Even those who had tickets and the will to show up were stalled. Quite literally! Some had no parking, others had no hotel because the area was completely booked up. A handful gave up altogether, stranded by gridlock and poor communication.

It’s a brutal blow for an event that’s trying to rebuild the sport’s foundation. But it’s not necessarily a Grand Slam failure. According to a report by Letsrun.com, it is a strategic fault as well, “But Grand Slam Track made a tactical mistake in putting the debut meet in such a big stadium and for putting another meet in Philadelphia’s cavernous Franklin Field. If there are empty seats, they need to be covered with a tarp.” There are other voices too that refuse to hold GST responsible for how things went down, As one commenter put it bluntly, “You can’t put it all on Grand Slam… stands that empty in Jamaica for a track event? It had to be a real, legit reason.” And this time, the reason wasn’t apathy. It was a scheduling clash, a lack of coordination at the city level, and maybe a reminder that even the boldest visions, like Johnson’s UFC- and F1-inspired GST, can get derailed when the basics fall through.

A star-studded stage and Sydney McLaughlin’s unforgettable performance

The Grand Slam Track wasn’t short on firepower. With stars like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Marileidy Paulino, and more on the roster, the lineup had all the ingredients for a blockbuster debut. Even Michael Johnson, the man behind it all, was pumped for what could unfold. Just days before the meet, he teased a potential 400m clash between Sydney and Paulino. It highlighted what made this event so different. “Our format is unique, where athletes have to run multiple races,” Johnson said. “We have Marileidy Paulino, who’s the Olympic champion in the 400, who’s going to have to run against Sydney in that 400. So it’s a really interesting format.” We had athletes branching way out of their comfort zones to make the Grand Slam Track a truly exceptional Track spectacle.

Naturally, the excitement online was through the roof. Highlight videos, promo graphics, athlete shoutouts. You name it! Fans were ready. With Sydney, Gabby, Masai Russell, and Cole Hocker in the mix, it felt like track and field was finally getting its spotlight moment. Gabby kicked off the series in the women’s 200m, and even though the camera work left a bit to be desired. Her performance was impossible to miss. Smooth, composed, powerful. She clocked 22.62 seconds to maintain her dominance. Moreover, 400m specialist Marileidy Paulino finished 2nd in the 200m event, truly highlighting her versatility. But the star of GST, hurdler and World Record holder, Sydney Mc-Laughlin Levrone, the first ever athlete to have signed with Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track.

Then came the headline race, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400m hurdles, lining up next to none other than Dalilah Muhammad. Their rivalry runs deep, and fans knew this matchup wouldn’t disappoint. Dalilah held her own and finished in 54.59 seconds, but Sydney stole the show. She blasted through with a time of 52.76. An April stunner that not only crushed the field but sent a message loud and clear. Her dominance score? A whopping 73.00. It’s early in the season, but Sydney’s already reminding everyone why she’s in a league of her own.

Although Grand Slam Track could not command packed stadiums, with a new and refreshing format and sufficient incentives for athletes to participate, it is truly turning out to be an event to look forward to. After all, there could have been no better place to organize such an event! “Less than full crowds at Jamaican track meets isn’t unusual, but putting this meet in Europe would have been tough as it’s not warm enough in many places.” Given the perpetual Track rivalry between Jamaica and the United States, it only makes sense for the revolutionary track meet to be held there! After all, we doubt anyone would remember the empty seats, given how stellar the performances are.