Philadelphia has been confirmed as the fourth and final Grand Slam Track host city, the league announced on Thursday.
The event will take place on May 30, 31 and June 1 at Franklin Field, the site of the Penn Relays with Philadelphia joining Los Angeles, Kingston, Jamaica and Miami as the four sites for the 2025 season.
“Philly has a reputation for bringing intensity to every event, and that’s exactly what we’re looking for with Grand Slam Track,” league founder Michael Johnson said in a statement. “There’s a unique energy in this city, and we’re excited to see how the athletes respond to that. Philadelphia’s sports culture is something else, and it’s going to elevate the competition.”
With the announcement of Philadelphia as the fourth host city, plans for the league have finally taken form and quieted rumors of other potential host cities like New York or London for its inaugural season.
And while the details of the Los Angeles won’t be unveiled until tomorrow, details about the three confirmed venues provide of glimpse of what the fan experience and possible turn out will be in each event. Franklin Field has a capacity of nearly 53,000, while Kingston’s National Stadium at Independence Park holds 35,000 and Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar seats just over 5,000.
Johnson announced Grand Slam Track last summer and pledged to boost cash payouts with the league while staging races with compelling storylines. Event winners in each of the four “Slams” will received $100,000 and eighth place finishers taking home $10,000.
The league will be comprised of 48 “Racers” who will compete in all of the meets and 48 “Challengers,” who will also be eligible to win prize money.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was the first athlete to join the league and other notables like Josh Kerr, Fred Kerley, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Cole Hocker have since been added to the roster. There are now 32 confirmed “Racers,” with the final 16 to be revealed as announcements from the league have become a weekly routine.
The action begins with the Kingston meet on April 4 at National Stadium.
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(Photo courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics)
