Despite world-class performances and a historic meet in Kingston, Jamaica may not be a guaranteed stop on the Grand Slam Track calendar in seasons to come. Following the final day of the inaugural three-day event at the National Stadium on Sunday, Grand Slam Track Commissioner Michael Johnson remained non-committal about whether the island will continue to host the innovative series in the future.
While the on-track action delivered fireworks — including world-leading performances from Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser and Brazil’s Alison dos Santos — fan turnout told a different story.
Naser blazed to an emphatic 48.67s in the Women’s Long Sprint 400m, producing the fastest time in the world this year and outclassing a high-profile field that featured Olympic champions Marileidy Paulino and Gabby Thomas. In the men’s equivalent over the hurdles, dos Santos impressed with a season-leading 47.61s, underlining his return to top form. Jamaica’s Danielle Williams also gave local fans something to cheer about, claiming a hard-fought victory in the Women’s Short Hurdles and earning the US$100,000 winner’s cheque — the only Jamaican to secure a division title.
However, those thrilling performances played out in front of sparse crowds, raising questions about the local appetite for the new series — at least at this time of year and at these price points.
When asked about the decision to kick off the tour in Kingston, Johnson was optimistic:
“Absolutely. When we announced Kingston, everyone was excited — the athletes, the fans. Some of the athletes didn’t even want to leave! This was about honouring Jamaica’s rich track and field heritage while modernising the sport,” he replied.
Still, when pressed about the likelihood of returning to Jamaica for future editions, his tone shifted:
“We’ll evaluate everything after the season ends before making those decisions. But right now, we’re focused on this year,” he said.
Sources suggest that the disappointing attendance figures could factor heavily in that post-season evaluation. Several fans cited challenges with ticket affordability, particularly given the timing — just one week after the five-day ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships, which traditionally commands a significant chunk of the public’s disposable income. Grand Slam Track’s pricing structure — US$60 (J$9,000) per day for general admission and US$20 (J$3,000) for Bleacher seats — proved prohibitive for many.
Johnson acknowledged the attendance issue, stating:
“I mean, obviously, look, I mean, let’s be honest, we would love to have seen more spectators here.
"We’d love to see more spectators, no doubt. But the crowd that was here was fully engaged, and that’s important. From a competition standpoint — zero false starts, no issues — everything ran smoothly. Behind the scenes, of course, we noticed some things we’ll improve. That’s just our standard — we want the best for our athletes and fans. We’ll tweak and refine things for Miami, Philly, and LA, then reassess again for next season."
Additionally, fans voiced concerns over scheduling. The 5:30 p.m. start times on Friday and Saturday were seen as too early for working-class patrons, while the 2 p.m. kickoff on Sunday clashed with family routines and churchgoers’ schedules.
Despite the hiccups, Johnson remained upbeat about the broader vision of the league.
“We’ve developed something special here. We’ve seen what this format can produce — dramatic finishes, world-class performances, and engaged athletes. We’ll keep tweaking, keep improving.”
Grand Slam Track now moves to Miami, with stops in Philadelphia and Los Angeles to follow. Whether Kingston gets another turn remains to be seen — and will likely depend on how well the series continues to balance innovation with accessibility.