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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2021) | Viewed by 48398

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Dr. Nicolas Scelles

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Guest Editor

Department of Economics, Policy and International Business, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, UK
Interests: sport economics; finance; management and policy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Qi Peng

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Guest Editor

Department of Economics, Policy and International Business, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, UK
Interests: sport policy; Chinese football; organizational change; organizational behaviour
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The importance of focusing on sustainability in sport policy and finance has been increasingly emphasized by academics and practitioners worldwide. This Special Issue seeks submissions on this topic, with a view to advancing academic knowledge and providing practical recommendations based on articles representing the different parts of the world. The following list is not exclusive, but cross-cutting themes might include: policy, financial investment and social impact (Lombardo, Mazzocchetti, Rapallo, Tayser and Cincotti, 2019); policy, talent and/or career sustainability (Richardson and McKenna, 2019); career transition and financial sustainability (Park, Lavallee and Tod, 2013); policy and sustainable engagement of actors (Viollet, Scelles and Ferrand, 2019); sport for development and peace and sustainability (Giulianotti, Darnell, Collison and Howe, 2018; Hayhurst and del Socorro Cruz Centeno, 2019); policy change and sustainability (Peng, Skinner and Houlihan, 2019); sustainability of sports events and financial impact on sports organisations (Schnitzer and Haizinger, 2018); non-for-profit organisations and financial sustainability (Paredes, Moreno and Dos Santos, 2019); sustainable performance and financial value (Scelles, Helleu, Durand and Bonnal, 2013, 2016; Scelles, Helleu, Durand, Bonnal and Morrow, 2017); insolvencies and remedies (Scelles, Szymanski and Dermit-Richard, 2018; Szymanski, 2017; Szymanski and Weimar, 2019); financial regulation and sustainability (Dermit-Richard, Scelles and Morrow, 2019; Morrow, 2014; Peeters and Szymanski, 2014; Szymanski, 2014); financial capability, innovation and sustainable development (Chen, Zhang and Pifer, 2019); stadium funding and sustainable business model (Bunds, McLeod, Barrett, Newman and Koenigstorfer, 2019); women’s sports and sustainability (Valenti, 2019); and sports and sustainable governance (Peng, Dickson, Scelles, Grix and Brannagan, 2019).

Dr. Nicolas Scelles
Dr. Qi Peng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

career
engagement of actors
sport for development and peace
policy change
sports events
financial value
insolvencies
financial regulation
innovation
business model

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 834 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Extraordinary Funding and a Financially Viable Football Industry—Friends or Foes? A Norwegian Football League Perspective

by Åse Jacobsen, Morten Kringstad and Tor-Eirik Olsen

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2788; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13052788 - 04 Mar 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2958

Abstract

Financial distress has been frequently addressed in the sports business and management literature; however, surprisingly little attention has been devoted to implications for financial viability derived from funding beyond what the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) defines as relevant income in football, henceforth referred to as extraordinary funding. This study critically discusses and reflects upon whether extraordinary funding can contribute to financial viability. To address this issue, we draw on approximately 100 financial statements for Norwegian top division clubs and their cooperating companies for three fiscal years. Results indicate that, although extraordinary funding contributes with sorely needed funds, thus from the outset contributing in making clubs more robust, the manner in which extraordinary funding occurs is still of great importance from a viability perspective. In this respect, it is useful to distinguish clearly between ex ante and ex post funding. While ex post funding can be argued to be counter-productive to financial viability (e.g., cloaking inadequate finances, providing incentives for overspending, and rewarding clubs that overspend), ex ante funding is more in line with sound financial management (e.g., funds that are contingent upon a history of sound finances, incorporated in budgets). One important implication of this study is that ex post funding can contribute to crowding out of good practices, as clubs that overspend can be rewarded for their actions by having funds injected ex post. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Policy and Finance)

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20 pages, 817 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Match Experience at the Danish Women’s Soccer National A-Team Matches: An Explorative Study

by Morten Kringstad, Tor-Eirik Olsen, Tor Georg Jakobsen, Rasmus K. Storm and Nikolaj Schelde

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2642; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13052642 - 02 Mar 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2351

Abstract

Women’s soccer is more popular than ever, but match attendance is still relatively low. In order to develop sustainable revenue streams for women’s football, and help it grow further, it is necessary to understand what drives spectator’s overall demand. We explore factors that affect the overall match experience for spectators (i.e., spectator satisfaction) attending Danish women’s national soccer A-team games in the 2016 to 2019 period as a proxy for this. Using survey data gathered by the Danish Football Association (DBU) consisting of 4010 individuals and 13 matches, coupled with other match-specific data, we employ multilevel regression modelling. The results at the individual level suggest that female spectators are significantly more content with the overall match experience, while several additional factors are also important at the match-specific level, such as kick-off time and the result. Furthermore, there are indications that match significance and derby matches affect overall match experience. An important implication of these results is that they can aid national and international federations and other governing bodies in promoting women’s soccer in general, and women’s national A-team soccer specifically, in order to help the sport to become more financially viable. Although numerous initiatives have been designed to increase the attractiveness of women’s soccer, these are yet to materialize into long-term effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Policy and Finance)

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14 pages, 259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Facilitating Sustainable Outcomes for the Organization of Youth Sports through Youth Engagement

by Anna-Maria Strittmatter, Dag Vidar Hanstad and Berit Skirstad

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2101; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13042101 - 16 Feb 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2640

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore how a youth sport development programme in connection with a major event may facilitate sustainable outcomes for the organization of youth sports in Norway. The context of the study involved the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports’ initiative to increase young people’s engagement within Norwegian organized sports. The result of the initiative was the Young Leaders Programme (YLP) in connection with the 2016 Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games. Young people’s perceptions of the YLP, as well as how these perceptions relate to its implementation, are evaluated to determine the extent to which the programme may make a difference to sustainable youth engagement in organized sports. Qualitative data were generated through interviews with 16 YLP participants, aged 16–20, and five implementing agents. Applying the framework of processes affecting sustainability, the study shows how certain forms of sustainability can be enhanced while constraining other forms at the same time. The findings highlight that project design and implementation play a more crucial role in creating organizational sustainability than in creating individual sustainability. Furthermore, we were able to reveal that the engagement of young people in sport events as volunteers fosters individual sustainability, of which sport organizations and sporting communities should take advantage by providing arenas where young people can re-engage in sport organizations and thus contribute as change agents to a sustainable organization for youth sports. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Policy and Finance)

16 pages, 353 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Financial Sustainability and Earnings Management in the Spanish Sports Federations: A Multi-Theoretical Approach

by Juan Carlos Guevara, Emilio Martín and María José Arcas

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2099; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13042099 - 16 Feb 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3471

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze, from a multi-theoretical framework, whether the managers of the Spanish National Sports Federations (NSFs) apply earnings management using accounting accruals as a measure of managerial discretion; secondly, whether these practices are associated with both the level of dependence on external resources, and the economic and financial control mechanisms exercised by the Superior Sports Council (Consejo Superior de Deportes, CSD) for the granting of public subsidies. The study provides evidence that long-term debt levels and the size of sports federations are determinants of earnings management, with a more accentuated relationship in the case of Olympic and Paralympic sports federations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Policy and Finance)

17 pages, 1947 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conditions under Which Trickle-Down Effects Occur: A Realist Synthesis Approach

by Luke R. Potwarka and Pamela Wicker

Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 69; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13010069 - 23 Dec 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3224

Abstract

Policy makers often legitimize bids for major sport events and public funding of elite sports by trickle-down effects, suggesting that hosting events, sporting success, and athlete role models inspire the population to participate themselves in sport and physical activity. According to previous review articles, empirical evidence of trickle-down effects are mixed, with several studies citing marginal or no effect. The purpose of this study is to apply a realist synthesis approach to evaluate under which conditions trickle-down effects occur (i.e., what works for whom under which circumstances?). Using rapid evidence assessment methodology, 58 empirical articles were identified in the search process and critically analyzed through the lens of realist synthesis evaluation. The analysis identified six conditions under which trickle-down effects have occurred: Event leveraging initiatives, capacity of community sport to cater for new participants, live spectating experiences, consumption possibilities on television or other media, and communities housing event venues. The findings have implications for the sustainability of sport policy decisions and public finance, as the likelihood of trickle-down effects increases with integrated planning and sustainable spending related to the above six conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Policy and Finance)

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16 pages, 318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Financing of Elite Athlete Development: An Empirical Analysis of Winter Sports in Austria

by Pamela Wicker and Bernd Frick

Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9664; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229664 - 19 Nov 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2942

Abstract

This study examines the value of professional winter sports to the Austrian resident population in the context of three major sporting events (the 2017 World Championships in Alpine Skiing, the 2018 Winter Olympics, and the 2019 World Championships in Nordic Skiing). In nationwide population surveys (n = 2289), the contingent valuation method was employed, and the respondents were presented with two scenarios asking for their willingness-to-pay for live broadcasts and long-term athlete development. The aggregate willingness-to-pay amounted to €42 million (for live broadcasts) and about €800 million (for athlete development). However, only about 20% of the residents expressed a positive willingness-to-pay. The respondents’ willingness-to-pay is not only determined by well-studied factors like consumption capital, intangible factors, and socio-demographics, but also by life satisfaction. The willingness-to-pay for live broadcasts is comparably higher for alpine skiing, while the willingness-to-pay for athlete development is higher for Olympic winter sports athletes. The findings have implications for sport policy and sport finance, highlighting the challenge of turning public sport consumption into a willingness to contribute financially to sustainable athlete development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Policy and Finance)

12 pages, 239 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Positive Externalities from Professional Football Clubs in the Metropolitan Rhine-Ruhr, Germany: Trickle-Down Effects Associated with Promotion and Relegation

by Hyunwoong Pyun, Jeeyoon Kim, Torsten Schlesinger and Luca Matto

Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8638; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12208638 - 20 Oct 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3545

Abstract

Hosting sport events is costly, but the positive impact of hosting sport events has not been studied well. We consider the promotion of physical activity, known as the trickle-down effect, to be a new dimension of this kind of impact. Using exogenous variations in promotion and relegation in the Bundesliga 1, we test the effect of the presence of a Bundesliga 1 club on local non-profit football club membership. Using German city-level annual non-profit sport club membership data from the metropolitan Rhine-Ruhr, we group cities with experience of either promotion or relegation as treatment cities and other cities as the comparison group. Difference-in-difference analyses show that promotion (using a strict definition of promotion) of local professional football clubs increases non-profit football club membership by 14% while relegation does not affect membership. The presence of Bundesliga 1 clubs in a city increases non-profit football club membership by 11%. Falsification tests support the idea that the impact of promotion on membership results in a net increase in membership. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Policy and Finance)

15 pages, 709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Esports Governance: Exploring Stakeholder Dynamics

by Qi Peng, Geoff Dickson, Nicolas Scelles, Jonathan Grix and Paul Michael Brannagan

Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 8270; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12198270 - 08 Oct 2020

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 12414

Abstract

Esports is a rapidly growing industry. However, the unidentifiable governance structure of the industry has contributed to a number of integrity-eroding activities. By exploring esports stakeholder dynamics, this paper answers the question, “Is the esports governance model sustainable?” Data were sourced from documentation, focus groups (N = 3) and semi-structured interviews (N = 6). Thematic analysis was conducted using Nvivo. The findings suggest that (1) the current esports governance framework features some attributes of the “lead organisation-governed network”, with the power residing mainly in game publishers; (2) the rising power of other stakeholders in the network seeking to address integrity issues has caused fragmentation of the esports governance framework; (3) esports governance is evolving towards a network administration organisation (NAO) model. Such evolution has a few challenges—most notably, the compliance of game publishers. Given the social impact of the integrity issues, governments should play a main role in facilitating a NAO model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Policy and Finance)

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7 pages, 777 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clear Data as a New Data Typology to Enhance Sustainability in Sport

by David Lavallee, Jeff Lowder and Jane Lowder

Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4527; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12114527 - 02 Jun 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3105

Abstract

(1) Background: Data-driven analysis and decision-making are playing an increasingly crucial role in improving organizational sustainability. This paper introduces clear data as a new typology. Further, it explores the utility of clear data to enhance sustainability in sport by enabling informed decision-making for the provision of targeted support to all stakeholders. We propose this typology to capture transparent data across an organization that assess levels of perceived and received support in key areas as validated by stakeholders. (2) Methods: Item development, content validation, instrument reliability, and utility of a survey designed to enhance sustainability in the sports industry is described. (3) Results: The instrument validation process found a high level of agreement among expert panel members, excellent test consistency, and high test–retest reliability. (4) Conclusions: Recommendations are provided for how clear data can enhance sustainability in sport. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Policy and Finance)

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8 pages, 381 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Money Talks: Team Variables and Player Positions that Most Influence the Market Value of Professional Male Footballers in Europe

by Jose Luis Felipe, Alvaro Fernandez-Luna, Pablo Burillo, Luis Eduardo de la Riva, Javier Sanchez-Sanchez and Jorge Garcia-Unanue

Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3709; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12093709 - 03 May 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4885

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse different interactions of the variables (age, position, or quality of the team and the league) and the crowdsourcing Transfermarkt values of male players in the top European leagues. All players (n = 2259) in the five most highly valued European leagues—Spain, England, Italy, France, and Germany—from the 2017/2018 season were included in this study. Data were retrieved from the open-source football database (Transfermarkt). The present economic value (VPRESENT) and maximum economic value (VMAX) of all players with professional contracts were registered. Regression analysis evidenced a significant influence of the level of the team, the birth month, the league, the playing position and the age of the player on mean and maximum economic value (p < 0.05). This analysis confirms that the players participating in the UEFA Champions League, Premier League teams, playing as attacking midfielders, and born in the first quarter of the year are the most economically valued in terms of both current value (R2 of 0.33) and maximal value (R2 of 0.36). Therefore, international football entities must take into account the financial balance between competitions—and not only at the domestic level, as the attractiveness and balance of European competitions may be directly affected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Policy and Finance)

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25 pages, 475 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Issues within Post-Olympic Games Legacy Governance: The Case of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games

by Jinsu Byun and Becca Leopkey

Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3585; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12093585 - 28 Apr 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5050

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore issues in post-Olympic Games legacy governance by examining the case of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Using a combination of the polity, politics, and policy governance dimensions and the issues management literature, a case was built using archival material and semi-structured interviews. The findings highlight 10 issues related to the three dimensions of post-Games legacy governance (legal, accountability, context, funding, conflicting values or interests, venue, coordination, participation, pre-event planning, and policy momentum). The relationships between the identified issues and perceived gaps among stakeholders are also presented. A model of post-sport event legacy governance that highlights the multidimensionality of the governance system is provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Policy and Finance)

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