137 Inside the NBA G League with Motor City Cruise President China Jude

137 Inside the NBA G League with Motor City Cruise President China Jude

Dr. China Jude has built one of the most accomplished leadership careers in sports, with executive roles spanning collegiate athletics, the NFL, USA Volleyball, and now the NBA G League. As President of Business Operations for the Motor City Cruise, the Detroit Pistons' G League affiliate, she leads the organization's business strategy, revenue growth, corporate partnerships, ticket sales, fan engagement, and community impact. Her mission is to grow the Cruise brand, deepen its connection with the Detroit community, and create a best-in-class experience for fans and partners alike. In this episode of the Sports Business Leaders Podcast, China shares lessons from more than two decades in sports leadership, discussing how organizations build strong cultures, why community engagement is a competitive advantage, and how business leaders can drive sustainable growth on and off the court. She also offers practical advice for entrepreneurs and companies looking to partner with professional sports organizations, explaining what teams value most when building long-term business relationships.

136 How The Armory Became the Home of Indoor Track & Field

The Armory is home to one of the world's fastest indoor tracks, the historic Millrose Games, and the National Track & Field Hall of Fame. But it's also a nonprofit that helps thousands of young people through education, fitness, and community programs. In this episode, Jake sits down with Rita Finkel and Jonathan Schindel, Co-Presidents of The Armory Foundation, to discuss what it takes to operate one of the busiest track & field venues in the world. They talk about venue operations, fan experience, community impact, youth development, and how The Armory has become a destination for everyone from first-time athletes to Olympians.

135 Major League Table Tennis CEO Flint Lane on Lessons from Building a Pro League

Flint Lane is the founder, CEO, and commissioner of Major League Table Tennis (MLTT). After spending more than two decades building Billtrust into a publicly traded company, Flint came out of retirement to launch the first professional table tennis league in the United States—a league that has quickly grown to 10 franchises, secured a national television partnership with CBS Sports, and attracted world-class athletes from around the globe. Flint shares the lessons he brought from the software industry into sports, including why launching an MVP matters, how MLTT thinks about broadcast distribution, fan acquisition, sports betting, and multiple revenue streams beyond ticket sales. He also discusses the league's long-term vision, expanding franchise ownership, and what it will take to turn table tennis into a mainstream spectator sport in America. Whether you're building a startup, investing in sports, or fascinated by emerging leagues, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at creating a modern sports business from the ground up.

134 Running a 2,700-Player Youth Soccer Club with LMSC President, Michele Burns

What does it take to build one of the nation's premier community-based youth soccer clubs while staying true to your mission? On this episode of the Sports Business Leaders Podcast, Jake Voorhees sits down with Michele Burns, President of Lower Merion Soccer Club (LMSC), a nonprofit organization serving more than 2,700 youth athletes annually with a player-first approach to development. Together, they discuss Michele's journey into youth sports leadership, how LMSC balances recreational and elite pathways, and why developing confident, resilient young people matters just as much as developing great soccer players. The conversation also explores the rapidly evolving youth sports landscape, including private equity, club consolidation, community-based programming, and what vendors need to know before trying to do business with youth sports organizations. Michele shares practical advice on authentic relationship-building, sustainable club growth, and why keeping families at the center of every decision has been the foundation of LMSC's success.

133 The Business of Emerging Sports with RRE Ventures & Disc Golf Pro Tour

In this live Sports Business Leaders panel, we sit down with James Robinson, Investor at RRE Ventures, and Dominic DiFebo, President of the Disc Golf Pro Tour, to discuss how innovation is reshaping the sports industry. The conversation explores what investors look for in emerging sports businesses, how new leagues attract fans and sponsors, the role of technology and media in driving growth, and why niche sports are creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Whether you're building a sports startup, investing in the industry, or simply curious about where sports business is headed, this conversation offers valuable insights from two leaders helping shape its future.