According to sources familiar with the matter, Chief Content Officer Rick Qualliotine and Chief Live Event Officer John Porco have both exited the organization. Their departures come as the league navigates a significant restructuring following the abrupt cancellation of its season finale in Los Angeles, which had been scheduled for late June.
The league, which debuted in April, has not yet appointed successors for Qualliotine formerly of NFL Media or Porco, who previously led live event operations at WWE. Grand Slam Track declined to comment, and neither former executive could be reached for a statement.
Despite attracting major track stars like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas, the league faced a rocky start. Attendance was underwhelming at its first event in Kingston, Jamaica, though subsequent meets in Miami and Philadelphia saw some improvement. The final event, set for UCLA’s Drake Stadium on June 28–29, was ultimately scrapped.
League founder Michael Johnson addressed the cancellation by emphasizing the importance of long-term sustainability over short-term comfort. “Sometimes tough decisions are necessary,” he said, referring to a shift in funding strategy aimed at next season.
Coach Bob Kersee, who trains McLaughlin-Levrone, also voiced his support on Instagram, urging former athletes, coaches, brands, and sponsors to invest in the future of the sport. “Our athletes deserve an organization that reflects their excellence,” he wrote.
As plans for a second season take shape, Grand Slam Track is actively courting additional investors. Notable new backers include Sundial Brands founder Richelieu Dennis and billionaire Robert F. Smith, who was already on the league’s board. A new strategic partnership with Dennis’ Sundial Media Group was also announced to help secure sponsorships and media deals.
The league has aimed to reshape track and field’s financial landscape, offering large prize pools even in non-Olympic years up to $100,000 for first place per meet, with a total of $12.6 million in prizes across four events. Backed by a $30 million funding commitment, Grand Slam Track emerged from a collaboration between Johnson and Winners Alliance, a commercial venture launched by the Professional Tennis Players Association in 2022.
Sportico previously reported that Winners Alliance had invested a seven-figure sum into Grand Slam Track before its official launch.
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