Track and field is home to some of the most electrifying races in sports, yet it continues to battle a heartbreaking reality.  Declining visibility and financial instability.  Even world champion Noah Lyles has voiced concerns, calling the sport “dying” due to its struggles with broadcasting and funding.  Fans are passionate, and athletes are breaking records, but if no one can watch, how can the sport grow?

The 2025 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, set for February 22-23, will feature some of the country’s biggest stars competing for a coveted spot on the world team.  It will be a thrilling showcase of talent! But instead of excitement, fans are left frustrated. With confusion surrounding how and where to watch the event, track and field fans are once again questioning the broadcasters.

Jonathan Gault, a staff writer for LetsRun.com, took to X to highlight both the excitement and the glaring issue at hand.  He mentions, “USA Indoors starts on Saturday. Some major absences, but we’ve still got Quincy Wilson, Hobbs Kessler, and some great women’s distance finals (Houlihan, Hiltz, MacLean, Morgan).  One issue: still unclear if/when Saturday’s events will be broadcast.”  As of now, there is no information about how events will be broadcast.

On one hand, the Championships promise thrilling performances from rising stars like Quincy Wilson and established names like Hobbs Kessler, the bronze medalist at the 2024 World Indoor Championships.  The 17-year-old athlete, Wilson, is the youngest gold medalist for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics.  The women’s distance finals also feature standout competitors all set to deliver must-watch races. But on the other hand, the question is where to see this event.

And now fans aren’t happy about it!

Fans call out broadcasters over broadcast issues for track and field

With just days to go until the 2025 USA Indoor Championships, many are still in the dark about how to watch the event.  One fan took to X and stated, “ I’d NEVER pay! That’s crazy to me. Do US athletes get paid to compete, therefore at least get some of the money?”

Another echoed the confusion, asking, “Are you serious? For crying out loud.  Please let us know if you hear anything.”  These reactions highlight a pressing issue.  How can a sport expand its audience if its biggest events remain behind paywalls or lack clear viewing options?  In an era where accessibility is key to growing fan engagement, track and field looks like is falling behind.

The skepticism isn’t just about availability.  It’s also about trust.  One fan pointed out the inconsistencies in NBC Sports and Peacock’s coverage, recalling past mistakes, saying, “Very strange about how @nbcsports and @peacock [are] doing coverage of Saturday. Remember, in 2023, didn’t they miss WRs?  Not sure if they really want to build a fanbase.”

One fan shared their disappointment, saying, “I’ve got my TV set to record NBC broadcast Sunday afternoon.  Not as good as watching it all live, but it’s something.”  Track and field is a sport that mostly thrives on real-time excitement.  With the delay in the display of the event on the first day itself, they will miss out on the raw intensity of the sport.

But some seemed to be fine with the broadcasting changes.  It is visible as one of the fans commented, “I actually love the sport and pay more than that to watch my daughter run an age group track meet. Why not pay it to watch the US Indoor Championships and support the #1 team in the World? People pay much more than that to watch other sports. I prefer free on national TV of course.”

As the mixed reactions continue, what are your thoughts on the issues? Let us know in the comments down below!