The Diamond League (DL) has faced significant criticism following the conclusion of its finals in Brussels on September 13 and 14, where both athletes and fans expressed frustration with the event. While the DL announced an increase in its prize fund for next year, this news failed to generate excitement. A notable track and field journalist, Lillz TIL, took to social media on September 20 to highlight ongoing issues within the DL. In her post, she emphasized that the league needs major changes and criticized how athletes often feel disrespected, noting that this sentiment frequently arises in her conversations with them. She also pointed out that there has been little external pressure on the DL to address these concerns.
The controversy surrounding the DL intensified when FloTrack obtained exclusive broadcasting rights for the Diamond League, starting in 2025. Instead of being celebrated, the announcement sparked disappointment, as fans feared it would reduce the sport’s visibility. The platform’s $29.99 monthly subscription cost was seen as prohibitive, especially when compared to the previous $5.99 rate offered by Peacock. Many fans also relied on NBC’s free-to-air service to watch the DL, making the new subscription requirement even more unpopular.
Track and field legend Carl Lewis also weighed in on the issue, stating that he was not a fan of the Diamond League, accusing it of reducing athletes’ control and pay. His remarks echoed the sentiments of many fans, who shared similar concerns about the league’s direction.
Diamond League need to revamp so much but they’ve had no one forcing their hand to till now… And their Meet Directors need to find a way to not leave athletes feeling disrespected because that always comes up in my conversations with them.
— Lillz (@LillzTIL) September 20, 2024
The situation worsened when Grant Holloway, a gold medalist from the Paris Olympics, withdrew from the Brussels DL final. Holloway posted about his decision on social media, alluding to his dissatisfaction with how athletes were being treated. Around the same time, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, a 400m hurdles Olympic champion, was initially excluded from the event, leading to further discontent. Although the organizers corrected their mistake, the damage had already been done, with fans expressing growing dissatisfaction.
Support for Lillz TIL’s criticisms quickly grew, with many fans agreeing that the DL needs to better respect its athletes. Some suggested that appearance fees were a likely factor in Holloway’s decision to withdraw. Additionally, one fan noted that the DL ranks last in terms of total prize money compared to other major leagues, adding to the frustration.
While the track and field season is winding down, there are still major events on the horizon, such as Athlos NYC, which boasts a $500,000 prize fund. Looking further ahead, the Grand Slam Track meet will launch in 2025, offering a massive $12.6 million prize fund across four events. Some fans have already begun comparing the execution of certain track events, such as an exhibition race between Mondo Duplantis and Karsten Warholm, to the Diamond League, highlighting how even minor adjustments in presentation can make a big difference.
As the DL grapples with mounting criticism, it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed in the future. Fans and athletes alike are left wondering if the league will make meaningful changes or if the dissatisfaction will continue into next season.
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