This edited book delves into several aspects of sports and sports management from a vantage of uncertainty and turbulence unleashed initially by COVID-19. The book, divided into three broad sections, deals in strategy and governance of sports organizations, use and evolution of technology in sports, and sports consumption and media. It starts from the backdrop of how sport assumed a new-found importance in people's lives while reeling under several phases of pandemic-induced lockdowns. Consumers felt how integral sports was in their lives when there were no live games to watch and bond on. Players, leagues, organizers, and media are still recovering, along with viewers, as sports makes a tentative comeback in our lives. COVID-19 was a precursor of the disruptions to come. Both the supply and demand sides have taken note of those disturbances to prepare themselves for any such potential derailments. The organizations, franchises, athletes, media, health care, logistics on sports have been reworking their strategies to keep coping with uncertainties. On the other hand, the consumers have transformed their sports consumption behavior over these two years, aided by the enormous technological changes.
Such a backdrop paved the way for researchers to understand how the sports industry has dealt with this impact and has rediscovered itself to take its coveted spot. This book is a snapshot of several global sports changes and how they continue to evolve in an increasingly turbulent and uncertain world. It will be a rich resource not only for academics studying sports management, but also event management organizations, administrators, and policymakers.
Author(s): Bhaskar Basu, Michel Desbordes, Soumya Sarkar
Series: Sports Economics, Management and Policy, 21
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 321
City: Singapore
Foreword
Preface
Praise for Sports Management in an Uncertain Environment
Contents
Editors and Contributors
Managing Sports in Turbulent Times
Strategy and Governance
Supply Line in Sports—Can We Insulate It from Catastrophic Events like COVID-19?
1 Introduction
2 The Sports Context
3 Supply Line in Sports
4 Literature Review
5 The Proposed Solution Framework
6 Strategy Viewpoint
7 Finance Viewpoint
8 Operations Viewpoint
9 Technology Viewpoint
10 Conclusion
References
Co-Hosting Sports Mega-Events in a Fast-Paced Environment
1 Introduction
2 Co-Hosting SMEs: History and Current State
3 Methodology
3.1 Primary Data Collection
3.2 Secondary Data Collection
4 Results and Discussion
4.1 Positive Effects of Co-Hosting
4.2 Challenges of Co-Hosting
4.3 Summary of the Results
5 Conditions for Joint Bids
6 Conclusion
References
Understanding Sports Logistics: Scope, Framework, and Disruptions
1 Introduction
2 Understanding Logistics in Sports
2.1 The 3M Classification
2.2 Characteristics of Sports Events
2.3 Sports Logistics Pentagon Framework
2.4 Functions Involved in Sports Logistics Management
3 The Changing Nature of Sports Logistics Management
3.1 The Olympic Games
3.2 Cricket
3.3 National Football League
4 Conclusion
References
Challenges and Limitations of the Implementation of Sustainability Practices in International Sports Federations
1 Introduction
2 An Overview of CSR and Sustainability in the Context of IFs
2.1 CSR and Sustainability in the Sport Sector: The Emergence and Definitions
2.2 A Transition from “Green” and “CSR” to “Sustainability” in International Sport Events
3 Case Studies: IFs’ Sustainability Implementation
3.1 Case Presentation
3.2 Case Studies Analysis
4 Challenges to IFs’ Sustainability Implementation and Possible Solutions
4.1 Challenges in Implementing Sustainability Practices
4.2 How to Better Integrate Sustainability? Possible Solutions or Suggestions
5 Conclusion
Notes
References
Marketing, Technology and Innovation
Analysis of the Sport Ecosystem and Its Value Chain, What Lessons in an Uncertain World?
1 Introduction
2 Sport and Television: Historical Relationships
2.1 General Principles of Financing Professional Sport
2.2 International Differences
3 Theoretical Aspects: The Stadium is the Place Where the Service is Delivered (Neo-Marketing Approach)
3.1 Consumer Behavior and Fans Desires
3.2 The Stadium: An Experiential and Community Living Space
4 Some Recent Trends in the Ecosystem of Professional Sport
4.1 The Optimization of Sports Venues as a Lever for Sustainability and Revenue Growth for Professional Sports Clubs
4.2 Fan Experience as a Lever for Public Loyalty
4.3 Sponsorship Activations Specific to Sporting Events
4.4 Sports Service Innovations and Their Role in the Spectator Experience
4.5 The Place of Women’s Sponsorship as a Development for Brands
4.6 Sports Brand Strategies
4.7 Influence Marketing Strategies Carried Out by Sports Organizations
4.8 The Role of Digital in the Success of Sporting Events
4.9 The Role of Digital in the Sports Spectator Experience
Bibliography
Perspectives on the Intersection Between Sports and Technology
1 Introduction
2 Sports and Technology
3 Technology and the Business of Sports in an Uncertain Environment
4 Understanding a Sports Fan
5 Fan Engagement
5.1 In-Stadia Fan Engagement
5.2 Out-Stadia Fan Engagement
5.3 Sports Collectibles and Allied Industries
6 Sports Training
6.1 Wearable Technology
6.2 VR (Virtual Reality)/AR (Augmented Reality)
7 Alternate Sports
7.1 eSports
7.2 Mobile Betting
7.3 Fantasy Sports
8 Sports Metaverse
9 Conclusion
Bibliography
The Transformational Role of Technology in Sports Events
1 Introduction
1.1 As a Result of This Chapter, the Readers Will
2 Theoretical Background and Key Constructs
3 Technologies in Sports Events
3.1 Security
3.2 Fan Engagement
3.3 Efficiency and Effectiveness of Resources Use and Allocation
3.4 Sustainability
3.5 Accessibility and Inclusion
3.6 Sport Media Coverage and Video Broadcasting
4 Conclusion
References
Future of Sports Operations and Sports Event Management in Uncertain Environment: A Critical Review
1 Introduction
2 Literature Review
3 Sports Operation Management
4 COVID-19 and Its Impact
5 Risk and Risk Management Models
6 Trends for the Future
6.1 Results and Discussion
6.2 Limitations and Future Research Directions
7 Conclusion
Bibliography
Consumption, Media and Economics
Is Reality Less Real? Proliferation of Sports Documentaries in a Locked-Down World
1 Introduction
2 Sports Documentaries
3 Consumer Attitudes
4 Understanding Sports Documentaries: The Disrupted Era
4.1 Devotion to Excel
4.2 Triumph Over Adversity
4.3 Coping with Defeat
4.4 Teamwork
4.5 Situating Oneself in the Socio-Political Milieu
4.6 Racial Aspects
4.7 Handling Pressure
4.8 Vulnerabilities
4.9 Mental Health
5 Understanding Sports Documentaries: Consumer Attitudes
6 Findings
6.1 Player and Sport Dynamics
6.2 Gaining Information
6.3 Life Lessons
6.4 Self-Enhancement
6.5 Decision to Watch
6.6 Interest in a New Sport
7 Recapitulating Sports Documentaries
Appendix
References
‘A Brave New World’: Exploring the Implications of Online Chess for the Sport Post the Pandemic
1 Introduction
2 Chess as a Sport
3 Resurgence of Chess’ Popularity During the Pandemic
3.1 Online Streaming and the Role of Influencers
3.2 Impact of Netflix’s Limited Series ‘the Queen’s Gambit’
3.3 Launch of Viewer-Friendly Top-Level Online Chess Competitions
4 Issues that Cropped up Due to Chess’ Online Resurgence
4.1 Clash Between Traditional Chess Culture and New Chess Culture
4.2 Use of Unfair Means in Online Chess
4.3 Fan Culture: Support as Well as Backlash for Players
5 Implications for the Sport of Chess
5.1 Popularity of Online Tournaments and Co-existence with Offline Tournaments
5.2 Collaboration Between Various Stakeholders in the Chess Ecosystem
5.3 Online Chess as an e-sport
6 Online Chess as a Brand Extension
7 Conclusion
Bibliography
Fan Communities in Online Co-viewing of Sports: Impact of Perceived Needs and Benefits
1 Introduction
2 Literature Review
2.1 Consumers’ Core Needs and Benefits
3 Methodology
3.1 Sample
3.2 Measures
3.3 Analysis and Results
4 Discussions and Conclusion
Appendix: Scales Used in the Study
References
The Changing Business of Football: The Impact of the Lockdown on the English Premier League
1 Conceptual Framework
1.1 What is Commodification: How is Football Commodified
1.2 What is the Political Economy Lens?
1.3 What Are the Contradictions in the English Premier League?
2 The Structure of Football Business—Revenue and Competition
2.1 An Empirical Analysis of Finances of EPL Clubs
2.2 Why EPL Clubs Are Oligopolistic Businesses?
2.3 Empirical Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis
3 How Clubs are Coping with the Losses Caused by the COVID-19 Lockdown?
3.1 Branding and Importance of Social Media
3.2 Branding
3.3 Project Big Picture
3.4 European Super League
4 Conclusion
References
Adapting to a VUCA World
