What Are PTPA and Winners’ Alliance? Michael Johnson’s $30 Million Partnered Firms for ‘Grand Slam’ Track and Field Tournament

The track and field community is experiencing a time of anticipation like never before, and it’s not just about the Olympics. While the quadrennial event is undoubtedly the biggest thing ahead on the horizons, other exciting things are also brewing on the horizon. Among these, former Olympian Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track is easily at the center of all the vortex swirling about.

The disarray that prevails in the world of track and field has been slammed by many athletes and fans in recent times, and Johnson has made it a point to announce his intentions to bring changes to the situation. With that in mind, the Olympic gold medalist has partnered up with PTPA and Winners’ Alliance to unveil his dream project. But what are these two organizations that have extended their helping hand to the veteran runner?

Michael Johnson’s dream backed by big names

“We’re revolutionising the track landscape,” said Johnson, the CEO and Commissioner of Grand Slam Track in an interview with The Running Channel. Then, in another recent episode of the Citius Mag Podcast, Michael elaborated on this thought further. There, he revealed that his ambitious project, scheduled to kick off for the first time in 2025, has racked in a staggering $30 million from investors already.

Among these investors,  Winners’ Alliance is the primary name that has been incredibly enthusiastic in supporting Johnson’s venture. According to its website, “Winners Alliance is a global, athlete-centric commercial solution,” that helps to create “scalable” commercial opportunities for athletes. It effectively nurtures businesses from the ground up, giving them impetus and visibility on the global scale. The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) is the commercial wing of the Winners’ Alliance and was founded by tennis icons Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil. They help acquire businesses and create proliferating partnerships the world over with their reach and star wattage, respectively. They had forged a collab of sorts with the Hilton chain of hotels.

“For us, what has been missing from the landscape of track and field is exactly what we’re bringing,” said Johnson in the Citius Mag Podcast, making it clear that exciting things will enthrall fans with its scope. Considering how track and field has been slammed with severe mismanagement, it’s no wonder that one of the greatest champions of the sport is fixated to reinstate his beloved sport to its former glory.

Dismal conditions make track and field a murky place

The USA’s apex track and field body, the USATF, has been slammed for its negligence to the athletes’ financial needs. At the upcoming US Olympic Team Trials, the top eight finishers will all receive prize money. However, the fact that the winner will be given a merger $11,000 and the eighth-place finisher is eligible for only $1,100, fans could not hold back their frustration. On top of that, the USATF also irked many community members when it announced a $37,500 prize money gold medalists at the Paris Olympics. These amount many to allege that the USATF isn’t concerned about giving athletes a proper platform to help them grow.

Moreover, weeks ago, American sprinter Kenny Bednarek also took to social media to vent his frustration about how bringing his family to see him perform is fast becoming an expensive wish. With Noah Lyles also acknowledging his teammate’s complaint, the dire situation was laid bare once again.

These are the exact kind of problems that Michael Johnson and the Grand Slam Track are determined to change. With a prize pool of $12.6 million, the TV-friendly show will go all out to give the athletes the exposure they deserve. “This is all about fans and athletes,” said Johnson in his podcast, and fans can’t wait to see what the new tournament brings to the table. What are your expectations of Johnson and his new venture? Tell us below!