Moneyball - The Business of Sport

Scott Keenan | Sports Business Commentator & Brand Strategist

Sport isn’t just about what happens on the field — it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry driven by the deals, decisions and dynamics behind the scenes. Moneyball is the podcast that pulls back the curtain on the business of sport — how it works, who makes it happen, and where the real game is being played. Hosted by sports business commentator and brand strategist Scott Keenan, the show dives into the intersection of sport, money and culture, with open, commercially focused conversations that go behind the big decisions shaping modern sport in Australia and around the world. From player contracts and sponsorship deals to broadcast rights, expansion teams, athlete brands and women’s sport, Moneyball is fun, curious and unfiltered — made for sports insiders and for fans who want to understand how the game really works. Subscribe and join the conversation. Because if you want to know what's really going on in sport, you've gotta follow the money!

  1. 2d ago

    Anthony de Ceglie: Before He Left Perth Bears

    Just over a week before Anthony de Ceglie stepped down as CEO of the Perth Bears, he joined Scott Keenan on Moneyball for an in-depth conversation about building the NRL’s newest club from scratch. What was originally a discussion about launching a professional sports franchise in AFL-mad Perth now offers a fascinating snapshot of de Ceglie’s priorities and mindset immediately before his departure. Anthony talks about building the Bears on a “very short runway”, competing with the PNG Chiefs for attention and talent, dealing with criticism and why his personal mantra was to “ignore the noise”. And when Scott asks what he would do differently if he had his time again, Anthony’s answer is striking in hindsight: governance. They also discuss the commercial strategy behind the Perth Bears — memberships, sponsorship, mining and resources, New Balance, merchandise, fan data, North Sydney heritage and the challenge of creating a club Western Australians feel belongs to them. Recorded before Anthony de Ceglie stepped down as Perth Bears CEO. Moneyball – The Business of Sport goes behind the deals, decisions, culture and commercial forces shaping the sports we love. Hosted by Scott Keenan. Instagram / YouTube: @askmoneyball_show Email: askmoneyball.show@gmail.com 00:00 Why this interview matters now 01:44 Building the Perth Bears from scratch 04:33 Competing for attention in Western Australia 10:26 Perth, North Sydney and building belonging 15:04 Perth Bears v PNG Chiefs 17:40 Handling criticism and “the noise” 20:11 Sponsorship, mining and resources 22:07 New Balance and the Bears as a lifestyle brand 26:02 New jerseys and merchandise strategy 28:37 Measuring success before kick-off 30:05 What Anthony would do differently 33:29 The final challenges before Round 1 34:42 What happens next for the Perth Bears

    Anthony de Ceglie: Before He Left Perth Bears
  2. Oct 1

    Why Newcastle Needs the Knights

    The Newcastle Knights are back in the NRL Grand Final for the first time in 25 years — but this isn’t a Grand Final preview. It’s a conversation about belonging and why the relationship between Newcastle and its rugby league team feels different. Moneyball host Scott Keenan is joined by 1997 premiership winner Steve Crowe, Triple M Newcastle Breakfast co-host Tanya Wilks, and The Knighted creator Lincoln Ison. Crowey takes us inside Newcastle’s famous 1997 Grand Final week, including the emotional team meeting the night before the win over Manly and the extraordinary scenes as thousands of supporters sent the team to Sydney. Tanya explains what she is hearing from Newcastle as the city turns red and blue again, while Lincoln talks about experiencing this run as a modern fan and content creator, including the livestream moment that left him in tears. They also discuss Kalyn Ponga, Justin Holbrook, the fans who kept turning up through the wooden-spoon years, merchandise and membership, and a bigger sports-business question: Can a professional sporting club manufacture genuine belonging — or does Newcastle have something that simply can’t be copied? Guests Steve Crowe — Newcastle Knights 1997 premiership player, former club administrator and Newcastle business leader. Tanya Wilks — co-host of Triple M Newcastle Breakfast and a fixture of Newcastle radio for more than 25 years. Radio Today Lincoln Ison — rugby league content creator and host of The Knighted, covering the Newcastle Knights through previews, reviews and fan-led content. Apple Podcasts Moneyball – The Business of Sport pulls back the curtain on the deals, decisions, people and commercial forces shaping sport. Hosted by Scott Keenan, sports-business commentator and communications strategist. YouTube: @moneyball_show Instagram: @moneyball_show Contact: askmoneyball.show@gmail.com

    Why Newcastle Needs the Knights
  3. Sep 19

    Should Aussie Sports Be Worried About the NFL?

    NFL Melbourne worked. More than 100,000 people packed the MCG for the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia — but the bigger question is what happens next. Can the NFL turn one enormous event into a genuine Australian market? And if it does, could its sheer commercial scale eventually become a threat to the AFL, NRL and other Australian sports? Scott Keenan is joined by AJ Maestas, founder of sports strategy and analytics firm Navigate and host of the Navigating Sports Business podcast, to unpack the business behind the NFL's push into Australia. They discuss why the NFL chose Melbourne and the MCG, where Australia fits into the league's international expansion strategy, the enormous potential value of global media rights, how casual fans become long-term customers, flag football, and the very different approaches taken by the Rams and 49ers in Melbourne. They also turn the question around: if one NFL team can operate at a scale comparable with an entire Australian sporting league, what happens if the NFL starts competing more aggressively for Australian fans, sponsors, media dollars and sporting spend? AJ Maestas is the founder of Navigate, a data-driven sports and entertainment consulting firm working with leading brands, leagues, teams, universities and entertainment organisations. He is also the host of Navigating Sports Business, featuring conversations with leading decision-makers from across the sports industry. Moneyball – The Business of Sport pulls back the curtain on the deals, decisions and strategies shaping sport. Hosted by Scott Keenan, an Australian sports business commentator, Moneyball covers media rights, expansion, investment, ownership, sponsorship, broadcasting, marketing and fan growth. Contact: askmoneyball.show@gmail.com Instagram: @askmoneyball_show If you want to know what's really going on in sport, you've gotta follow the money.

    Should Aussie Sports Be Worried About the NFL?
  4. Sep 15

    Is the NBL about to BLOW UP on Nine?

    Could NBL27 be the season Australian basketball gets significantly bigger? With the new NBL season tipping off on September 19, Saturday night basketball is coming live and free to Nine and 9Now — giving the league a major opportunity to reach new and casual fans. Geoff Dyer, Director of Programming for 9Network & 9Now, joins Scott Keenan on Moneyball – The Business of Sport to explain why Nine invested in the NBL, why it chose a Saturday night doubleheader and where basketball fits into Nine’s wider sports broadcasting strategy. Geoff says Nine could already feel momentum building around the NBL through television ratings, mainstream media coverage and social media. Now the broadcaster wants to use the wider Nine business to help take Australian basketball to an even bigger audience. Scott and Geoff discuss why basketball works so well on television, Nine’s ambition to offer live sport 365 days a year, the audiences and advertisers the NBL can attract, and why the battle for attention is now much bigger than the traditional Nine-versus-Seven television rivalry. They also get into what the NBL broadcast on Nine will actually look like, potential Nine talent in the coverage, NBL Overtime, Wide World of Sports and the importance of short-form and social content in bringing casual fans into basketball. Geoff also explains Nine’s strategy for Super Netball, reveals that every Super Netball game will be available free on 9Now, discusses why Premier League football has moved behind the Stan Sport paywall, and talks about the opportunity for younger voices and content creators in sports broadcasting. Finally, Geoff explains why success for Nine’s NBL partnership isn’t simply about television ratings. Nine wants to see the game grow through bigger audiences, attendances, club memberships and social engagement. In Geoff’s words: “Everything is a partnership.” Moneyball – The Business of Sport goes behind the deals, decisions and dynamics shaping sport. Contact Moneyball: askmoneyball.show@gmail.com

    Is the NBL about to BLOW UP on Nine?
  5. Aug 29

    Why Private Equity Wants the NRL

    Sports teams are becoming one of the hottest assets in global investment. The LA Lakers have been valued at an extraordinary US$12.5 billion. Private equity giant EQT has agreed to become the majority shareholder in Melbourne Storm. And all 17 existing NRL clubs have reportedly proposed helping to build and own the competition’s 20th team before potentially selling it. So why does everyone suddenly want to own a sports team? Murray Barnett returns to Moneyball to explain why investors increasingly see sports franchises as an asset class of their own — and why the NRL could be particularly attractive. Scott and Murray unpack the economics behind Melbourne Storm’s reported valuation, the importance of long-term media rights, and why membership of a closed competition like the NRL, NBA or NFL can be more valuable than the club itself. They also examine whether soaring sports valuations are creating a bubble, why the scarcity of franchises could keep pushing prices higher, and what happens when the commercial interests of investors collide with what supporters want their clubs to be. And with the NRL’s existing clubs considering whether to help create Team 20 themselves, could expansion now be about creating valuable new sporting assets as much as growing the game? About the guest Murray Barnett is the founder of 26West Sport, advising sports organisations, investors, broadcasters and brands across media rights, sponsorship and commercial strategy. He has held senior roles at ESPN, Formula One, World Rugby and DAZN and has worked across some of the biggest commercial properties in global sport. About Moneyball Moneyball – The Business of Sport explores the intersection of sport, money, media and culture. Hosted by Scott Keenan, the show goes behind the headlines to explain the commercial decisions shaping modern sport. 📩 Questions, guest suggestions or commercial enquiries: askmoneyball.show@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: @moneyball_show ▶️ YouTube: @moneyball_show

    Why Private Equity Wants the NRL

About

Sport isn’t just about what happens on the field — it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry driven by the deals, decisions and dynamics behind the scenes. Moneyball is the podcast that pulls back the curtain on the business of sport — how it works, who makes it happen, and where the real game is being played. Hosted by sports business commentator and brand strategist Scott Keenan, the show dives into the intersection of sport, money and culture, with open, commercially focused conversations that go behind the big decisions shaping modern sport in Australia and around the world. From player contracts and sponsorship deals to broadcast rights, expansion teams, athlete brands and women’s sport, Moneyball is fun, curious and unfiltered — made for sports insiders and for fans who want to understand how the game really works. Subscribe and join the conversation. Because if you want to know what's really going on in sport, you've gotta follow the money!

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