Diamond League rival Grand Slam Track (GST) has unveiled more plans for its 2025 track season. On Thursday, the new circuit announced that Philadelphia will be the fourth and final host city for its opening year; the league’s 48 world-class athletes (who are under contract to compete in all four meets) and 48 recruited challengers will make their way to the City of Brotherly Love for the competition set for late May.
SEE YOU SOON, PHILLY đź‘Š
Grand Slam Track heads to the City of Brotherly Love from May 30-June 1, 2025.
— Grand Slam Track (@GrandSlamTrack) November 14, 2024
Philadelphia rounds out the list of host cities for the 2025 season, joining Kingston, Jamaica, Miami and Los Angeles. The announcement deviates from GST’s original announcement in June 2023, where the league originally stated there would be two international host cities. This twist likely stemmed from U.K. Athletics pulling out of GST involvement due to financial concerns; both Birmingham and London had been considered for hosting one of the four planned annual events.
The Philadelphia Slam will take place at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania from May 30-June 1, 2025. GST founder and four-time U.S. Olympic champion Michael Johnson sees the city’s passionate sports culture as a perfect match for the league.
“Philly has a reputation for bringing intensity to every event, and that’s exactly what we’re looking for with Grand Slam Track,” Johnson said in a press release. “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.”
Thanks for the hospitality, @sixers! 🤝
Can’t wait to get rollin’ in Philly with y’all. pic.twitter.com/M0B8GhrZjK
— Grand Slam Track (@GrandSlamTrack) November 14, 2024
The date for the L.A. meet, although anticipated for late June 2025, has not yet been announced; GST confirms the complete calendar with official dates will be announced on Friday, Nov. 15.
