The New York Grand Prix has been one of the premier international track and field events in the United States since its inauguration in 2005. Perhaps most famously, it’s where Usain Bolt officially became the fastest man of all time when he broke Asafa Powell’s 100-meter record in 2008 with a time of 9.72 seconds.
The 2025 edition won’t see any records broken this year at Ichahn Stadium. The competition, originally scheduled for June 21, has been cancelled, and future iterations may also be in jeopardy.
The reason for the cancellation hasn’t officially been announced, but it’s widely speculated that it’s largely due to financial issues. According to the USATF’s official statement:
“USA Track & Field is disappointed to learn of the cancellation of the 2025 New York Grand Prix, originally scheduled for June 21. While USATF does not organize this event, we understand the impact this change may have on athletes seeking critical opportunities to compete, earn prize money, and gain world-ranking points.”
Shortly after news broke of the cancellation, Carl Lewis left a comment on the page @trackworldnews, “They have been financially irresponsible for years now. The federation model is antiquated and destructive to the sport. We are in need of a complete review and overhaul of the USATF in order to have a financially viable organization for the future.”
Carl Lewis was also highly critical of USATF after the United States men’s 4 x 100 team was disqualified for an illegal pass at the 2024 Olympics, writing on X, “It’s time to blow up the system.”
The New York Grand Prix’s official website hasn’t yet been updated since the announcement of the cancellation. It is currently still promoting confirmed athletes such as Noah Lyles and Gabby Thomas. Other notable athletes who were scheduled to compete included Elaine Thompson-Herah, Fred Kerley, Tobi Amusan, Danielle Williams, Devynne Charlton, and Kendra Harrison.
Fourth Cancellation in Recent Months
The New York Grand Prix is the fourth major athletics event cancelled in recent months and the third partnered with USATF.
“This Year We’ll Have More Unforgettable Moments” is the slogan that still appears on the website for the Los Angeles Grand Prix. Instead, the event was entirely forgettable, canceled quietly without an official statement released on the meet website, which still promotes athletes such as Ackeem Blake and Botswana sensation Letsile Tebogo.
Also canceled this year was the Bermuda Games, another event that has previously featured athletes like last year’s Olympic Champion in the 100-meter, Noah Lyles. The cancellation came after it was announced that the Bermuda Tourism Authority would be pulling its funding from the event. Last season, the event received 1.23 million views in the United States on the NBC network, a 20% increase from 2023.
The 2025 World Road Running Championship was the fourth event to be cancelled recently. The event, originally planned to be held in San Diego, was cancelled due to “lack of essential planning and preparation time.”
While Grand Prix Series Flops, Grand Slam Track Flourishes
Despite recent cancellations, the Grand Slam Track circuit, championed by Michael Johnson, continues to flourish in its inaugural season. According to the circuit’s official website, they have received over $30 million in financial commitments from partners.
The next stop in the Grand Slam Circuit will be in Philadelphia, scheduled for May 31 and June 1. The final event in the circuit will be held in Los Angeles from June 27 to 29.
In the United States, both events will be available for streaming on Peacock.