On the latest Sporticast podcast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Jacob Feldman are joined by Major League Table Tennis founder and CEO Flint Lane to discuss the league’s—and the sport’s—growth in the U.S.
Table tennis was among the breakthrough sports during the 2024 Olympics, with an American man reaching the round of 16 for the first time. Basketball stars Steph Curry and Anthony Edwards interacted with Team USA table tennis players in moments that went viral on social media.
More than 10 MLTT players are now returning from Paris before embarking on the league’s second season. The MLTT launched in 2023 with eight teams and more than $250,000 in prize money at stake. In June, the league added Jordan Schlachter as chief business officer. The 2024 season starts in Portland, Ore., in September.
The sport has millions of players in the U.S. and high-level leagues around the world. Lane, previously a tech entrepreneur, walked through his game plan for creating a new type of league in America, building ticket and sponsorship revenue around the country while developing a broad base for media distribution. He believes the fast-paced game has all of the components necessary to sustain general interest.
Of course, Major League Table Tennis is trying to grow at the same time as other paddle and racquet sports like pickleball and padel. But Lane says there is room for all of them, particularly in the world of social media, where new sports can reach millions via viral clips.
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