With the Paris Olympics approaching, the track and field world came face to face with a reality check. The amount of money allocated does not seem enough to sustain a decent living. Thus, to get the money back to the sport, several attempts were made. Out of those, one of the most prominent ones seemed to be the Grand Slam Track. Olympian Michael Johnson laid out a detailed plan for the track and field league that was supposed to revolutionize the game once and for all. And now, Johnson has dropped yet another major update that has sent shockwaves through the track realm. Firstly, let’s quickly run through the unique rules of the game. As per the initial announcement, GST will have a unique format consisting of Racer and Challenger 48 athletes. They will be competing twice within a span of three days at each Slam. There will be points that will get accumulated and team rankings will be available based on these points. However, the biggest talking point of the event is its $100,000 prize money for each Slam winner. And just when it seemed that the GST could not come out with any more surprises, Michael Johnson just introduced betting into the sport! In a recent X update, Michael Johnson wrote, “The number of times fans have tweeted at me saying @GrandSlamTrack should have betting, and I couldn’t respond! But today we announce! We are changing the game!!!” Now then, while this is surely an exciting prospect, the reality of sports betting in the United States of America is quite interesting. Out of the 50 total states in the US, only 39 of them allow sports betting legally. This means that there will be 11 states where fans will not be able to place their bets even if they want to. Since then, more data has emerged as well.Stats Perform has been reportedly selected as GST’s exclusive betting stats partner. While this might be an interesting addition, sports betting on track and field is not very common. One of the main reasons for the same can be cited as the lack of television exposure to the game. However, the partnership with Stats Perform is expected to bring in yet another radical change to how people perceive track & field.The number of times fans have tweeted at me saying @GrandSlamTrack should have betting, and I couldn’t respond! But today we announce! We are changing the game!!! https://t.co/TuqppcWo5g— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) February 25, 2025Speaking on the matter, Steve Gera, President of GST, stated, “We believe is going to be able to help bring casual fans into the sport at a much, much faster pace… [Stats Perform] understood the power of track as a sport and racing as a discipline, and the simplicity of it really spoke to them.” Unlike conventional track and field competitions, GST will not feature multiple races all at once. Their strategy to air one race at a time is expected to bring in more audiences. It is also looking to provide more scope for the bettors to get involved. Meanwhile, even with all the publicity stunts coming in, Grand Slam Track has not been devoid of controversies. In one of the biggest ones till now, Michael Johnson has snubbed the likes of Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson from the competition.Michael Johnson draws the line for Lyles and Richardson in Grand Slam Track with a surprising statementMichael Johnson has drawn a firm line in the sand for Grand Slam Track. He has made it clear that the Revolutionary League doesn’t need Noah Lyles or Sha’Carri Richardson to succeed. With GST securing major broadcasting deals and top-tier talent, Johnson’s message is bold and unmistakable. According to Johnson, it is either with or without them!Speaking on TalkSPORT, Johnson didn’t mince words. He stated, “We don’t need anyone else. We will take all of the fastest people, but we don’t have to have them.” With 48 athletes already signed, GST is forging ahead, leaving Lyles and Richardson to decide whether they want in. A major reason that Lyles had always looked down upon the GST was its lack of live coverage. But this time Johnson has something to bounce back with, in light of GST’s latest achievement.He further continued, “Not only are we on free-to-air network TV on CW, we are simultaneously streaming on Peacock.” Johnson further added, “There may not be any sport in existence right now that is more accessible than Grand Slam Track.” But for Lyles, the absence of a broadcasting deal was a key reason for staying away. For Richardson, these reports suggest that financial disagreements were what prevented her from signing.But now, with GST gaining traction, Johnson’s stance suggests the window may not stay open forever. “This is year one; this is where you want to be if you’re a premier track and field athlete,” he emphasized. With Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles set to host the event, GST is moving full speed ahead. Johnson has made his mission loud and clear. However, GST isn’t just another meet—it’s the future of track. And with or without Lyles and Richardson, the show must go on. As things are nearing the event, Michael has to prove this event will be one for the ages.The post Still Illegal in 11 States, Track and Field Legend Eager to Revolutionize Sport with Major Change appeared first on EssentiallySports.