How The Penn Relays Blends Business, Caribbean Culture, And Elite Competition
An inside look at America's oldest and largest track meet
Whatsup Squad,
Yesterday marked the start of the oldest track and field meet in America.
The annual Penn Relays features over 17,000 athletes from high school to masters level, drawing around 100,000 spectators to Philadelphia.
While the spectacle on the track is the main draw, the Penn Relays is a complex event that blends high-level athletics, Caribbean culture, and savvy business operations.
How Penn Relays Makes Money
Traditionally, donations played a large role in the money that helped fund the event.
But since 1988, sponsorships have become key to the Penn Relays' financial success.
JMI Sports, the event's multimedia rights partner, has been instrumental in securing major sponsorship deals with companies like Toyota, FloSports, and On.
These sponsorship agreements not only provide crucial financial backing, but also allow brands to align themselves with the event's unique blend of elite athletics and Caribbean culture.
Toyota's title sponsorship elevates the Penn Relays' profile, while Friday’s "On Day" further integrates the brand into the fabric of the weekend.
Alongside these major brands, the 2025 Penn Relays features 31 sponsors, ranging from track resurfacing company Rekortan to organic energy bar company JAMBAR.
The event also generates revenue through participant fees, with individual athletes paying $25 and relay teams paying $50.
But the real game-changer is ticket sales. Penn Relays employs a tiered ticketing system to accommodate the influx of fans on Saturday.
On the third day, a fourth tier is added, comprising all seating in the upper bowl.
Upwards of 50,000 fans pack Franklin Field to watch the Olympic Development events that feature many former Olympians and world champions.
If all attendees purchased the cheapest ticket price, the Penn Relays would generate $2.6 million from ticket sales alone. Clearly, the actual figure will be much higher.
Taken together, these diverse revenue streams help sustain the Penn Relays' operations and growth.
How the Caribbean Shines
Some of the fastest runners at the Penn Relays hail from Jamaica, and there are times when the green, black, and gold flags in the crowd outnumber the familiar red, white, and blue.
While some athletes compete for fun, many Caribbean athletes compete for their futures, hoping to turn the heads of scouts from top universities.
But competing isn’t cheap.
From participation fees to travel and meals, the Caribbean influence on the event wouldn’t be possible without Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB).
TJB has served the needs of Jamaican and Caribbean athletes at the Penn Relays for over two decades.
In 1999, TJB became the first Jamaican organization to be a participating sponsor at the Penn Relays. As a result, the Jamaican flag became the first foreign flag to be flown at the Penn Relays.
This year, TJB will be supporting:
The Bahamas (seven high schools)
Belize (one high school)
Jamaica (five colleges, 50 high schools)
St. Kitts-Nevis (one high school)
St. Vincent (three high schools)
Trinidad (five high schools)
TJB provides transportation, three meals a day, chiropractic care, medical care as well as negotiating and subsidizing lower hotel rates and airfare.
Beyond the business deals, logistics, and Caribbean pride, the Penn Relays are still, first and foremost, about the races.
And this year’s competition promises to be electric.
Jamaica vs. America
Usain Bolt won't be returning to Franklin Field this year, but there is still plenty of action worth following.
And it starts with Quincy Wilson.
The 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist will represent the Bullis School after recording the meet’s fastest-ever high school 400m split last year.
While he and his team hold the American record, they’ll have to beat 5 Jamaican teams to win the High School Boys' 4x400 Championship of America.
On the girls’ side, the Jamaica vs. USA rivalry will be as intense as ever. An American team hasn’t won the 4x400 Championship of America since 2008.
But the Bullis School’s girls’ 4x400 team, who won the New Balance Indoor Championships in early March with a high-school record, will be coming in confident.
They'll face a formidable challenge from Hydel High School, the reigning champion who has won the last three titles.
In fact, Hydel High is on a quest to complete their first-ever sweep of the High School Girls’ 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m Championships of America titles.
Final Thoughts
When I ran in the Penn Relays in high school (4x100), my small private school matched up against a few Jamaican high schools.
And I never felt slower in my life.
But I also remember being amazed by the sheer scale of the event.
Now, I recognize that it’s much more than a weekend track meet. It’s the perfect platform for sports sponsorship (especially for brands targeting the Caribbean diaspora).
From the high-stakes rivalries on the track to the vibrant Caribbean presence in the stands, the Penn Relays offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience for athletes, sponsors, and fans.
Until next time ✌🏾
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