🏁 The Failure of Grand Slam Track

Building this platform has taught me two things:

1. People value well-researched, business-first analysis

2. People care a lot about MY journey too

In a world increasingly moving to short-form video content, I questioned if #1 was desirable when I first started. I certainly did not expect #2 either.

So with that being said, here are some insights into what I am trying to achieve with The Long Play currently.

I’m developing an interview show. It’s the natural next step in the trajectory of the business. I’ve spent the last year breaking down the business moves of athletes, owners, and disruptors. Now I want to sit across from them and ask the questions directly.

What I underestimated, was the complexity! Brands, production partners, format decisions, it’s slower progress than I expected.

I thought I’d have multiple episodes filmed and released by now. That hasn’t happened. But the conversations are progressing and the goal is to launch before the year ends.

I’m also deep into building a series on Saudi Arabia’s role in sport. I’ve barely touched on it so far, but that’s about to change. I’ve started researching the episodes already, the stories are incredible. The scale, the ambition, the politics. I’ve started pulling together the research and it’s clear there’s a bigger narrative. If you haven’t already, you can register interest in that series HERE.

On the commercial side, I’m in the middle of building out a small sponsor roster. The channel is approaching 100,000 subscribers 😱 It’s insane to me that I just wrote that sentence.

A YouTube channel of that size unlocks real revenue, potentially thousands a month. But I’m choosing to be selective. I’ve turned down offers that don’t align. I am in talks with some that do. In the short term the lack of actual selection is costing me, but long term I think it’s the right decision. The trust is worth more.

Alas, one of the imminent videos that I will release on YouTube will look at newer disruptive sports leagues and the business models behind them. Grand Slam Track, a new athletics competition launched by Michael Johnson, is an example of one of the competitions discussed in the video.

It promised a lucrative, simplified, content-led alternative to traditional athletics.

Johnson structured four events. One in Jamaica and the the other three in the States.

Event winners earned $100,000 too! A considerable increase on their current setup.

It kicked off with ambition but last week we got news that financial issues forced them to cancel the fourth event!

It’s a shame because the innovation from MJ was exactly what the sport needs. I am no consultant from McKinsey but as a fan I can think of three obvious things that can be improved ahead of next year:

1. Optics. The first meet in Jamaica looked half-empty. Even if you don’t sell out, you have to fill the seats. Look at THIS shot of the stadium at the beginning of the Womens 200m. I't’s unacceptable, you have to give the tickets away for free. When watching at home, perception is everything

2. Format. No field events means the broadcast should be tight. Ninety minutes, max. Lean and to-the-point. Instead it dragged. Too much filler, not enough action for a multi-day event

3. Awareness. The Jamaican leg didn’t feel like a major event. That’s a marketing problem. There was no sense of occasion and it was barely promoted in the UK

This isn’t the end of Grand Slam Track, but Year Two needs sharper execution.

I’m rooting for you MJ

Closer to home, Sky Sports has just opted not to renew its deal with Ben Shalom’s BOXXER.

That leaves Sky Sports without a dedicated boxing promoter for the first time in decades.

When Eddie Hearn left for DAZN, Sky backed Ben Shalom. It was a gamble and four years later, they’ve walked away.

I see three things to look out for.

1. What’s next for Sky? They now have no in-house partner. Are they done with boxing?

2. Two, does BOXXER follow Hearn and Warren to DAZN? Three, if you’re a fighter on BOXXER’s roster, where do you go?

3. It’s not impossible to imagine all three major UK promoters under the DAZN banner. If that happens, Turki Al-Sheikh gets exactly what he wants. All the toys in one box

You’re going to see alot about Turki in the Saudi Series.

More details coming soon.

See you next week.