Sustainability

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15 pages, 287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring the Economic Impact of COVID-19 on the UK’s Leisure and Sport during the 2020 Lockdown

by Themis Kokolakakis, Fernando Lera-Lopez and Girish Ramchandani

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13865; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413865 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3638

This research evaluates the effect of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic on sport Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and consumer expenditure in the leisure sector in the United Kingdom (UK). The leisure sector is divided into leisure at home and away from home, examining in this [...] Read more.

This research evaluates the effect of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic on sport Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and consumer expenditure in the leisure sector in the United Kingdom (UK). The leisure sector is divided into leisure at home and away from home, examining in this way the different patterns that emerged because of the national lockdown in 2020. The effect on sport GDP is examined using the Office for National Statistics (ONS) surveys and the UK Sport Satellite Account (SSA). The study found that, because of its reliance on human contact, sport GDP is likely to decline by more than twice the rate of the overall economy. Furthermore, this finding is consistent with the 2020 consumer expenditure on leisure that shows increases in spending on home leisure but also a huge decline in spending on out-of-home entertainment. The decline in GDP is extremely likely to put pressure on profit margins and hence threaten the survival of private enterprises, raising issues of sustainability under conditions of a pandemic. Increases in long-term public funding for reducing sport inequalities should be considered along with short-term relief packages for the sport sector. Additional policy suggestions are offered to address these issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recovery and Sustainability of the Sport Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic)

24 pages, 635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perceived Threats through COVID-19 and the Role of Organizational Capacity: Findings from Non-Profit Sports Clubs

by Svenja Feiler and Christoph Breuer

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6937; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126937 - 20 Jun 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4031

Abstract

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced non-profit sports clubs to shut their doors. As a consequence, neither sports activities nor social gatherings could take place for an indefinite period. This situation poses potential risks to sports clubs as clubs could lose members, [...] Read more.

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced non-profit sports clubs to shut their doors. As a consequence, neither sports activities nor social gatherings could take place for an indefinite period. This situation poses potential risks to sports clubs as clubs could lose members, volunteers, and revenue. The purpose of this study is to investigate how strong clubs have been affected so far by COVID-19 and which capacities help or hinder clubs in dealing with the crisis. (2) Methods: The study is based on large-scale primary data (n = 4295) collected among German sports clubs in autumn 2020. Three fractional regression models are applied to examine which organizational capacities are related to potential threats caused by COVID-19. (3) Results: Clubs perceive the risk of losing members as most threatening, followed by the challenge of retaining volunteers. Potential financial threats are perceived as smaller by clubs without their own sports facilities and paid employees. (4) Conclusions: Overall, sports clubs with a strong solidarity culture seem to be affected less by potential threats through COVID-19. To become more resilient to unexpected external influences, capacity building in specific areas of sports clubs should be considered. Support from public institutions and sports associations is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recovery and Sustainability of the Sport Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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13 pages, 272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of COVID-19 on Sustainable University Sports: Analysis of Physical Activity and Positive and Negative Affects in Athletes

by Daniel Duclos-Bastías, Felipe Vallejo-Reyes, Frano Giakoni-Ramírez and David Parra-Camacho

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6095; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116095 - 28 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4064

Abstract

The suspension of university activities due to the pandemic affected training and sports competitions. However, some universities adapted online education, allowing students to carry out their activities without being infected by the virus. The aim of this study was to find out the [...] Read more.

The suspension of university activities due to the pandemic affected training and sports competitions. However, some universities adapted online education, allowing students to carry out their activities without being infected by the virus. The aim of this study was to find out the impact of the pandemic on physical activity levels and the positive and negative effects on Chilean university athletes. The information was obtained by applying the PANAS scale and demographic and physical activity variables were also measured. The sample of Chilean university athletes (n = 254) were aged between 18 and 31 years (M = 22.17; SD = 2.76). This study led to the conclusion that maintaining the frequency of physical training during the pandemic was associated with a preservation in the levels of Positive Affect and Negative Affect compared to the non-pandemic period. Thus, physical activity training was protective of emotional well-being and, therefore, of mental health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recovery and Sustainability of the Sport Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic)

16 pages, 261 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability in Participatory Sports Events: The Development of a Research Instrument and Empirical Insights

by Ine Hugaerts, Jeroen Scheerder, Kobe Helsen, Joris Corthouts, Erik Thibaut and Thomas Könecke

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6034; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116034 - 27 May 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5111

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) considers sports as an important enabler of sustainable development. The popular and fast-growing Participatory Sports Event (PSE) sector can play an important role in this regard, however, research that measures and reports sustainability in PSEs is scarce. Therefore, the [...] Read more.

The United Nations (UN) considers sports as an important enabler of sustainable development. The popular and fast-growing Participatory Sports Event (PSE) sector can play an important role in this regard, however, research that measures and reports sustainability in PSEs is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to construct and validate a research instrument based on the UN’s sustainable development goals, and to examine sustainability in PSEs. To this end, an online survey was administered among a representative sample of 303 PSE organisers, located in Flanders, Belgium. A confirmatory factor analysis affirmed the social, economic and environmental dimensions of the instrument and provided evidence for its validity and reliability. The results reveal significant discrepancies between the three dimensions, with a noticeable lower score for environmental sustainability compared to social and economic sustainability. Furthermore, challenges are highlighted in the field of the civil society sector and in walking sports events. The findings also indicate that large-sized events are more likely to be sustainable. The current study can act as a foundation for future research on sustainability in PSEs and can assist PSE organisers and policymakers to increase the sustainability-related performance of the sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recovery and Sustainability of the Sport Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic)

10 pages, 445 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tennis Coaches’ Perceptions of Covid-19 Impact on Their Health and Professional Activity: A Multi-Cultural Approach

by Miguel Crespo, Rafael Martínez-Gallego and Jesús Ramón-Llin

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5554; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105554 - 16 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2784

Abstract

Tennis coaches are facing considerable challenges as the game is disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The long tradition of tennis in the Latin American region and in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking European countries makes comparing these regions particularly interesting. The purpose of this research [...] Read more.

Tennis coaches are facing considerable challenges as the game is disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The long tradition of tennis in the Latin American region and in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking European countries makes comparing these regions particularly interesting. The purpose of this research was to study the perceptions of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking tennis coaches working in Latin American and European countries regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their health, professional, and economic circumstances. The perceptions of 655 coaches from 19 Latin American and European countries were collected using an ad-hoc questionnaire. Coaches reported on the incidence of the virus in terms of infection and quarantine, the impact on their coaching programs, and on their professional development, training, and education. They were also asked about their perception of the overall situation as a threat. The results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on the health and the profession of tennis coaches. Although Latin American coaches reported a greater impact on their health, economic, and professional circumstances, they viewed the pandemic as an opportunity for professional improvement and training as compared to the perceptions of European coaches. In light of these results, implications, practical applications, and future research are proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recovery and Sustainability of the Sport Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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22 pages, 966 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Importance of Club Revenues for Player Salaries and Transfer Expenses—How Does the Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19) Impact the English Premier League?

by Tommy Quansah, Bernd Frick, Markus Lang and Kieran Maguire

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5154; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095154 - 5 May 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 9339

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption in the sports industry and has raised the question of whether the football industry is based on a sustainable business model. Using data from the English Premier League (EPL), we develop a regression model to achieve [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption in the sports industry and has raised the question of whether the football industry is based on a sustainable business model. Using data from the English Premier League (EPL), we develop a regression model to achieve two objectives. First, we examine the relationship between the different revenue sources (TV revenues, match revenues, and commercial revenues) and the main cost drivers of professional football clubs (player salaries and transfer expenses). Second, we seek to predict the likely impact of a major market downturn such as the COVID-19 pandemic in the EPL. Our results suggest that TV revenues are by far the most important source of income for player salaries and market values, followed by match revenues and commercial revenues. We predict that player salaries, market values, and transfer expenses will all decrease in the forthcoming EPL season, 2020/2021. The magnitude of the reduction depends on the coronavirus scenario and ranges from −20.4% to −9.5% for player salaries and −26.7% to −12.4% for player market values. Our study seeks to explore the relative impact of the three main revenue sources in the EPL on the unprecedented growth of player salaries, market values, and net transfer expenses in the last three decades. In addition, our study adds to the understanding of the pandemic’s expected impact on the EPL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recovery and Sustainability of the Sport Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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16 pages, 621 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Professional Clubs as Platforms in Multi-Sided Markets in Times of COVID-19: The Role of Spectators and Atmosphere in Live Football

by Elisa Herold, Felix Boronczyk and Christoph Breuer

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2312; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042312 - 20 Feb 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4004

Abstract

In-stadium spectators affect the emotional value and atmosphere of sport live broadcasts. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Europe, the presence of in-stadium spectators, however, was suspended until further notice. Conceptualizing professional clubs as economic platforms, network effects due to the lack of [...] Read more.

In-stadium spectators affect the emotional value and atmosphere of sport live broadcasts. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Europe, the presence of in-stadium spectators, however, was suspended until further notice. Conceptualizing professional clubs as economic platforms, network effects due to the lack of in-stadium spectators may affect stakeholders’ utility. Thus, the main aims of this study are to examine the influence of missing in-stadium spectators for professional clubs by investigating network effects on (1) TV viewers’ emotional arousal and (2) TV viewers’ attention towards sponsor messages during live football broadcasts. Using a quantitative research design, a controlled lap was conducted, and broadcasts were presented to n = 26 highly involved participants. Heart rate, eye-tracking, and betting odds data served as measurements of arousal, attention, and game outcome uncertainty and were aggregated on a second-by-second basis (k = 140,400). Multilevel regression analysis showed significant differences in viewers’ arousal and attention to sponsors, contingent on the presence of in-stadium spectators and game outcome uncertainty. The presence of in-stadium spectators increased arousal, while attention towards sponsor messages decreased, depending on game outcome uncertainty. Based on the presence of network effects, implications to sustainably adapting professional football clubs’ business models based on stakeholders’ different interests can be given. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recovery and Sustainability of the Sport Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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15 pages, 467 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth Sport and Physical Activity Participation Trends

by Georgia Teare and Marijke Taks

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1744; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041744 - 6 Feb 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 10445

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic offers youth sport organizations the opportunity to anticipate consumer behaviour trends and proactively improve their program offerings for more satisfying experiences for consumers post-pandemic. This conceptual paper explores potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on changing youth sport and physical [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic offers youth sport organizations the opportunity to anticipate consumer behaviour trends and proactively improve their program offerings for more satisfying experiences for consumers post-pandemic. This conceptual paper explores potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on changing youth sport and physical activity preferences and trends to inform sport and physical activity providers. Drawing from social ecology theory, assumptions for future trends for youth sport and physical activity are presented. Three trends for youth sport and physical activity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are predicted: (1) youths’ preferences from organized to non-organized contexts become amplified; (2) reasons for participating in sport or any physical activity shift for youth as well as parents/guardians; (3) consumers reconceptualize value expectations from youth sport and physical activity organizations. The proposed assumptions need to be tested in future research. It is anticipated that sport organizations can respond to changing trends and preferences by innovating in three areas: (1) programming, (2) marketing, and (3) resource management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recovery and Sustainability of the Sport Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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