Grand Slam Track’s absence of significant TV agreements has drawn criticism from Noah Lyles, who raised issues with athlete exposure and international marketing.
Lyles has expressed worries that might rock the foundations of the league before it even begins as GST gets ready to make its debut in April 2025, promising to transform track and field.
GST might be lacking a crucial component: a clear route to international recognition, even with a $30 million investment and support from Olympic hero Michael Johnson.
The current Olympic 200-meter champion, Lyles, has been a vocal supporter of improved sporting finance and promotion.
GST appears to be the ideal answer on paper, giving athletes access to an unheard-of prize fund and the opportunity to play in a prestigious league.
However, Lyles recently voiced his displeasure in an interview with LetsRun.com, stating, “[Grand Slam Track is] still in the same position [with me] as it has been all year.”
Lyles’ primary bone of contention is that GST failed to negotiate airing rights with major networks.
Lyles thinks this endeavour falls short of making track and field a mainstream sport, even if Citius Mag has stated plans to webcast the events on its YouTube channel and provide original content for podcasts, newsletters and social media.
“And if a tree falls in the woods… did it make a sound?” he continued. expressing his worry that GST’s revolutionary goals might not be successful in the absence of strong media partnerships.
For Lyles, money is not the only consideration.
“I already have a lot of accolades and things that don’t need monetary value because I’m an Olympic champion, but I really need marketing value,” he said.
However, his marketing argument highlights a serious weakness in the way GST is now implemented.
The GST’s creator, Michael Johnson, has positioned the league as a remedy for track and field’s long-standing decline in popularity.
GST aims to revolutionise the sport by providing substantial financial incentives and a stage for participants to achieve fame similar to that of basketball and football stars.
Lyles’ worries about visibility, meanwhile, might prove to be a significant obstacle. Even the most inventive league runs the risk of being forgotten by the general public in the absence of a significant television partner.
The lack of high-end media agreements may also make it more difficult for GST to draw well-known figures like Sha’Carri Richardson and Lyles, which could have an effect on legitimacy and viewership.
