Shows

How The JackJumpers Effect will influence Tasmania’s upcoming AFL team

Tasmania’s Jackjumpers win NBL Championship, inspiring local pride and boosting youth sports participation in the state.

Published

6 months ago

July 7, 2025

Professor Tim Harcourt, Nathan Langridge

We’ve Seen the Jack Jumpers Effect — So Will There Be a Devil-Led Boom?

Article text by Professor Tim Harcourt

The Tasmania-based basketball franchise, the Tasmania JackJumpers, have just undergone a change of ownership, from founder Larry Kestelman to new owners Altor Capital

(Read more here).

Kestelman will keep his ownership of the National Basketball League itself but will remain with the JackJumpers for 2 years as part of the transition to new owners by 2027.

A Championship-Winning Start

The Jack Jumpers have only been in existence since 2021 but have been amazingly successful on the court, making the finals in their first year and actually winning the NBL championship in just their third season.

The JackJumpers have also been winners off the court too.

The JackJumpers Effect

When I interviewed the JackJumpers CEO Christine Finnegan for my new show Footynomics: The Business of Sport, on Ticker News and The Airport Economist channel

(Watch here), I asked if there was a ‘JackJumper effect’ on the Tasmanian economy and society as whole.

She explained its effect in a number of ways:

“We measured the economic and social impact that the Jack Jumpers have had on the state, and there’s certainly a three to one return almost for the state in terms of their investment in this club.

So, it’s not just, it should never ever, a sporting club should never ever just be measured through economic benefit, although that is clearly an upside, but there’s certainly that mental and that hearts and minds benefit that we’ve been able to really tap into.”

A Slogan That United the State

Christine noted the slogan ‘Defend the Island’ summed up the whole ethos when the team won the national championship in only their third season:

“I can honestly say when we won the championship, I walked the streets of Hobart, and I just walked past so many shops that had ‘Defend the Island’ in the window, and that’s everywhere from your mum and dad business to Myer, and everyone had it in the window, and there was an element of me that just felt this great sense of pride that we’ve been able to create something that all our businesses, regardless of whether they were involved with the club or not, that didn’t matter, that they’d all got onboard, and they really had wanted to defend the island with us, and it was a wonderful sense of achievement, I must say.”

A Coach Who Hits the Road

She believes the success on the court was in part due to the team’s American-born coach Scott Roth, who has embraced the island state to his heart and is clearly very popular all over Tasmania:

“I always think in terms of sport and sporting clubs, if they can’t come to you, then you must go to them, and I must say our head coach, leads that charge, as soon as our season’s finished, he’s in his car for six weeks, and he goes around and speaks at school assemblies and community events, and he does that off his own bat, but it’s really important that the state feel part of this.”

What Does This Mean for the Tasmania Devils?

With the Tasmania Devils Football Club entering the Australian Football League (AFL) in 2028, could the JackJumpers be a sign of what is to come?

After all, given the traditional popularity of Aussie Rules Football in Tasmania — a foundation state — if there can be a JackJumpers effect, then surely the Devils would be a JackJumper effect on steroids, given the scale of footy compared to basketball and other sports?

Tasmania has the highest proportion of footy fans even in terms of Google searches and has the highest proportion of ‘AFL only’ fans out of all sports fans

(See this analysis).

Unity Across Sports

Christine Finnegan says that far from being competitive, the Tasmanian teams are working together as one for the good of Tasmanian sport. The JackJumpers, the Hobart Hurricanes (Tasmania’s Cricket franchise in the BBL), and the Devils are all collaborating.

One major initiative is the Tasmanian Academy of Leadership in Sport, designed to:

“Give the next generation of Tasmanians the opportunity to now work in professional sport without having to leave the island.”

(More info here)

A Launchpad for the State

The Devils are certainly hoping to emulate the JackJumpers in providing an economic launchpad for Tasmania in terms of investment, skills, and job opportunities — particularly for future generations of Tasmanians.

As Christine Finnegan says:

“AFL is the number one sport in Tasmania but there was frustration always to miss out on having a team in the AFL but with the awarding of the 19th licence all of a sudden, you see it really exploding again, so it’s wonderful to see for the people of Tasmania,… Tasmanians have been great contributors to the overall success of AFL for many, many years, and they should be rewarded with having their own team to cheer for week in and week out.”

A Calculated Risk That Paid Off

Larry Kestelman sure did take a risk to take on the JackJumpers (as well as a whole code of basketball) just five years ago.

But this reminds me that success in business — as in sport — is to some extent a function of calculated risk, and the JackJumpers are a great example of sport entrepreneurship leading to community pride in Tasmania.

The JackJumpers are a beacon of light for what the Tasmania Devils Football Club and the associated infrastructure — both physical and social — could become for the state and even the nation.

*Professor Tim Harcourt is Chief Economist for the Centre for Sport, Business and Society at University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and host of Footynomics – the Business of Sport TV series on Ticker News.

Watch Footynomics

Shows

David Holm on designing better public spaces in cities

David Holm discusses designing denser, people-friendly cities while promoting his book, Drawing the City, focusing on public spaces and community

Published

5 days ago

January 5, 2026

Harvey Vargas

David Holm discusses designing denser, people-friendly cities while promoting his book, Drawing the City, focusing on public spaces and community

In Short:
– David Holm discusses his book, Drawing the City, exploring urban design for better public spaces in Australia and the UK.
– He emphasises that great cities prioritise density through public places, community, and walkability, rather than high-rise buildings.

In this episode of The Connector with Belinda Coates, Australian architect and author David Holm shares insights from his book Drawing the City, based on his travels to 500 cities worldwide. He explores how thoughtful urban design and public spaces can create thriving, people-friendly cities that reduce reliance on cars.

Holm emphasizes the power of drawing as a tool for truly observing and understanding city environments, encouraging students and enthusiasts to capture more than just what meets the eye. He challenges misconceptions about urban density, showing how well-planned cities can balance population with public amenities.

From Trafalgar Square to Central Park, and Vancouver to Copenhagen, Holm highlights examples of successful, walkable, and bike-friendly cities. He also discusses the importance of continuity, diversity, and social equity in urban planning, celebrating Venice in winter as his favourite city for its unique interaction with space.

For more information, visit HarperB.

Shows

London’s investment landscape reshaped by global collaboration

Belinda Coates and Jace Tyrrell discuss global capital’s impact on London’s investment landscape in latest episode of The Connector

Published

5 days ago

January 5, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Belinda Coates and Jace Tyrrell discuss global capital’s impact on London’s investment landscape in the latest episode of The Connector

In Short:
– Jace Tyrrell discussed promoting London to global capital markets during “The Connector” with Belinda Coates.
– Key investment areas include Build-to-Rent, the experience economy, and integrating lessons from global cities like Riyadh.

In this episode of The Connector, host Belinda Coates features Jace Tyrrell from Opportunity London, focusing on the transformation of London’s investment landscape due to global capital collaboration.Tyrrell recently completed a five-week delegation across Asia and the Middle East, visiting cities to promote London to global investors. The primary aim was to secure the next £100 billion in capital investment, resulting in promising deals for the city.

Urban planning

In Tokyo, Tyrrell noted innovative workspace designs, particularly Nomura’s global headquarters, which prioritised employee well-being. His visit to Hong Kong revealed effective transport and urban planning, with interest in applying similar development strategies in London’s Victoria and Waterloo stations.

In Riyadh, Tyrrell observed a significant cultural shift and vast investment in heritage sites. He praised the youthful workforce, many educated abroad, contributing modern skills to Saudi Arabia’s growth.

Despite facing recent challenges, Tyrrell believes London has overcome hurdles, focusing on capital deployment and projected transactions of approximately £15 billion this year. Opportunity London highlighted its successes over the past year, aiming for a revitalised, dynamic London by 2026. Tyrrell plans to visit Australia in February 2026.

For more information, visit HarperB.

Shows

Data center market growth insights for investors’ strategies

Investors eye booming Australian and UK data center markets, insights from Louisa Curcio and Eleanor Kwak on key trends

Published

5 days ago

January 5, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Investors eye booming Australian and UK data center markets, insights from Louisa Curcio and Eleanor Kwak on key trends

In Short:
– Australia’s data center market is accelerating, with $6.7 billion in investment and notable international operators entering the space.
– The UK’s data center market is booming due to AI adoption, with over $44 billion invested and major projects announced.

Australia and the UK are witnessing significant growth in their data center markets, attracting considerable investment. In 2024, Australia ranked second globally for data center investment, allocating $6.7 billion. Increased interest from international operators complements strong local companies like CDC and AirTrunk.

Eleanor Kwak, a partner at Johnson Winter Slattery, supports investors in navigating regulatory frameworks and transactions, amid a more engaged government facilitating these developments. The National AI Plan aims to expedite data center projects, while the Foreign Investment Review Board oversees security concerns related to foreign investment. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is intensifying scrutiny on competition in digital infrastructure.

Planning reforms

In the UK, accelerated growth is underpinned by AI adoption and digital transformation. Recognised as “critical national infrastructure,” data centers benefit from planning reforms prioritising grid access. Investment in this sector has reached over $44 billion, with the market expected to nearly double by 2028.

Louisa Curcio, a partner at Rider Levett Bucknall in London, highlights the need for early involvement in projects to enhance flexibility. Here, power availability remains a constraint, compelling companies to adopt sustainable practices while navigating regulatory challenges. Global trends indicate increased community engagement and varying regulatory environments influencing investment strategies across regions.

For more information, visit HarperB.