Ilitch Sports + Entertainment’s Taylor Traub named to the 2026 Sports Business Journal Forty Under 40 Class

On June 1, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment (IS+E) Senior Vice President of Business Strategy & Innovation Taylor Traub was named to Sports Business Journal’s (SBJ) Forty Under 40 class of 2026, an honor recognizing the most accomplished and influential young leaders across the sports business industry.

Each year, SBJ selects 40 executives across teams, leagues, media, agencies and brands who are driving innovation and shaping the future of sports business.

Traub joined IS+E in 2019 as Director of Financial Planning & Analysis. In this role, he focused on financial reporting, long-range planning, and data strategy and analytics.

In 2022, Traub created and launched the organization’s Business Analytics Team – leading to promotion to Vice President of Business Analytics. Under his leadership, the team developed and sustained a culture of business partnership and high performance.  

In June 2025, he was promoted to his current position, where he leads a team of five direct reports and more than 15 dedicated colleagues, spanning business strategy, data analytics, growth, and enterprise A.I. adoption.

“Taylor consistently delivers transformational business results through data-driven strategy, forward-thinking leadership and a rare ability to execute across a complex multi-team organization,” said Ilitch Sports + Entertainment President & CEO Ryan Gustafson. “Taylor is an entrepreneur at heart, driving measurable growth and operational improvement. He is incredibly deserving of this honor, and we are extremely proud of how he represents our organization.”

Traub has been a key leader across numerous IS+E initiatives, focusing on strategic planning, initiative management and execution, long-term venue planning, and numerous commercial strategies.

As champion for enterprise A.I., Traub has driven IS+E’s end-to-end A.I. roadmap. Under his leadership, IS+E successfully launched a new business intelligence platform featuring key applications now used by hundreds of colleagues, significantly improving visibility, performance tracking and decision-making across the organization.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Traub brings this same commitment to service into the community. He is a vocal advocate for individuals with disabilities and for the mental health needs of caregivers, shaped in part by his family’s experience with Parkinson’s disease.

In addition, his volunteerism, youth coaching and engagement with nonprofit organizations reflect a leader who prioritizes empathy, inclusion and community well-being. Through these efforts, Traub exemplifies leadership that extends far beyond his role, one defined by service and meaningful, people-first impact.

Read more at Sports Business Journal.