Now we all witnessed as Michael Johnson ushered in a new era of track and field as the Grand Slam Track rolled onto Kingston. The stadium lit up just like it did back when Usain Bolt was in his prime. But while the National Stadium boasted a capacity of 35,000, the reality was a far cry from that. Despite a star-studded roster, the stands were eerily quiet. So what was the reason for that? Well, many things can be said, but as one analyst said it best, it can all be caused by Johnson himself. So what exactly happened that led to the poor turnout?
Well, for that, we might need to rewind a little. While there were many critics, it was Leighton Levy who dropped the bombshell on SportsMax TV that’s got everyone buzzing. The sports analyst was cool with his words as he said, “It was a miss in terms of the crowd — specifically the turnout.” But why did the nation that goes crazy for track and field leave Johnson on mute? After all, the athletes brought the smoke with them.
From McLaughlin-Levrone’s world-leading 52.76 in the 400m hurdles to Danielle Williams snagging Jamaica’s lone $100,000 payday in the short hurdles, the action was electric. Levy even gave props: “It was a hit in terms of the performances but a miss in terms of the crowd, specifically the turnout.” Yet, despite the 48 contracted “Racers” and a $12.6 million prize pot, only about 6,000 fans trickled into a stadium built for 35,000.
This was significantly below the organizers’ lofty dreams. “The crowd engagement itself was fine, but the number of people who showed up wasn’t what organizers were expecting,” Levy noted, echoing Johnson’s post-meet gripe: “He said the crowd was disappointing in terms of size, though those who attended were engaged.” So, where did the disconnect happen?
Analyst Levy isn’t holding back—he’s pointing fingers at Johnson and his crew for missing the vibe of Jamaica. “I think the organizers may have made some missteps — not necessarily flubs, but perhaps they didn’t fully understand the culture of Jamaica or the nuances that affect turnout here,” he said. Disposable income? Check. Socioeconomic hurdles? Double-check. Levi broke it down: “Things like disposable income and other socio-economic factors likely played a role in the attendance.”
Then there’s the timing—Friday evening gridlock and Sunday dinner traditions crushed any shot at a full house. “On Fridays, especially in the evening, many are just getting off work and dealing with the usual gridlock traffic in the city,” Levy explained. “On Sundays, most Jamaicans are focused on Sunday dinner and spending time at home—they’re not usually looking to go out.” But how bad did that Sunday slot tank things?
Here’s the knockout punch: scheduling a midday Sunday start in Jamaica was like asking fans to ditch jerk chicken for a treadmill. Levi didn’t mince words: “Starting the meet around midday on a Sunday doesn’t work for Jamaican audiences at all. By early afternoon, most people are sitting down to Sunday dinner and are simply not inclined to leave their homes.” That cultural clash made Johnson’s 35,000-fan fantasy DOA. “To expect 35k people was unrealistic,” Levy flat-out stated, and the empty bleachers proved it.
With Friday traffic snarling Kingston and Sunday homebodies staying put, “these kinds of factors, I believe, significantly impacted the attendance overall,” he added. So what’s the fix for Johnson’s next swing? Grand Slam Track’s Jamaican debut exposed its Achilles’ heel—Johnson’s squad didn’t just miss the mark; they misread the whole playbook.
Levi’s breakdown says it loud and clear: you can’t drop a world-class meet in Kingston and ignore the pulse of the people. The track was fast, the stars were clutch, but without fans, it’s just a fancy workout. As GST heads to Miami (May 2-4), Johnson’s got some homework to do—because if you can’t pack the stands in the sprint capital of the world, you’ve got bigger problems than a slow start. Is this concern already making waves?
Uncertain Future for Grand Slam Track in Jamaica
Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track (GST) rolled into Jamaica like a Usain Bolt highlight reel—big names, bigger hype, and a $12.6 million prize purse to boot. The inaugural leg, held April 4-6, 2025, at Kingston’s National Stadium, had all the makings of a track fan’s dream with stars like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone lighting up the lanes. But here’s the gut punch: those 35,000 seats? Mostly empty, with just 6,000 fans showing up.
Now, whispers are swirling about GST’s future on the island, and Analyst Levy is digging into the uncertainty. “It was difficult to get a clear answer about GST’s future in Jamaica,” he said, setting the stage for a shaky vibe. So what’s got Johnson and his crew second-guessing? The man behind the mic, Michael Johnson, isn’t spilling the tea just yet.
When pressed on whether GST will sprint back to Jamaica, Levy noted, “Michael Johnson was asked directly whether the Grand Slam leg has a future in Jamaica, and all he said was that everything is under review. ” That’s it—no hype, no promises, just a cool ‘we’ll see.” “That was all he was willing to say, which suggests to me that, at least for now, they’re not entirely convinced Jamaica is the ideal venue for a Grand Slam meet,” Levi added.
After a turnout that barely scratched 6,000 in a stadium built for 35,000, you can feel the hesitation. But what’s driving that doubt? For GST, it’s all about the vibe, and empty bleachers don’t cut it. “They want to see full stadiums and strong energy — and while the energy was there, a packed stadium makes for a better product,” Levy explained. Sure, the fans who showed brought the noise, cheering winners like Danielle Williams to that $100,000 payday in the hurdles.
But with a turnout dwarfed by the 30,000-plus at the ISSA Champs a week earlier, the contrast stings. “It’s more compelling when fans from all sides of the stadium are cheering and enjoying the event together,” Levy said, pinpointing the letdown: “I think they were let down by the limited turnout.” So can GST tweak the recipe to fill those seats? Right now, Grand Slam Track’s Jamaican sequel is stuck in limbo.
Johnson’s “under review” line and Levi’s read on the room say it all—GST’s got potential, but Kingston’s sparse crowd left a mark. The energy was fire, the races were clutch, but without a packed house, it’s not the blockbuster Johnson envisioned. “They’re not entirely convinced Jamaica is the ideal venue,” Levi hinted, and with Miami’s leg (May 2-4) up next, the clock’s ticking for answers. Will GST double down on the island or sprint somewhere new? That’s the million-dollar question track fans are dying to see answered.
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