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Sport-Based Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Sustainable Development Goals

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 29180

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Prof. Dr. Vicente Javier Prado Gascó

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Department of Social Psychology, University of Valencia, 46021 Valencia, Spain
Interests: social psychology; emotional competence; psychosocial risks; quality of service; wellbeing; sport management; consumer psychology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Maria Huertas Gonzalez Serrano

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Department of Teaching and Learning of Physical Education, Plastic and Music Education, Catholic University of Valencia, 46110 Valencia, Spain
Interests: sport entrepreneurship; sport intrapreneurship; sport innovation; entrepreneurial ecosystems

Prof. Dr. Carlos Pérez Campos

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Campus Capacitas, Universidad Católica de Valencia, 46001 Valencia, Spain
Interests: inclusive education; social communication; inclusive higher education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are currently living in a situation of uncertainty and crisis. The sport sector has been especially influenced by the COVID-19 crisis, so there is an urgent need for the majority of sport enterprises to act entrepreneurially to face this change (Ratten, 2020).

The competitive environment and the necessary differentiation of organizations arising from the recent crisis have made entrepreneurship a field of study of growing interest. According to Murphy, Liao, and Welsch (2006), entrepreneurial organizations are key to economic growth in the market system, and the sports sector is no stranger to this. With this panorama, some governments are taking an active role as promoters of an entrepreneurial culture in different contexts, giving entrepreneurship a fundamental value for the economic development of societies and the improvement of the wellbeing and personal fulfillment of citizens. Therefore, entrepreneurship is a new field of research that is progressively attracting more attention among researchers and relevant institutions and organizations in the international arena. It is essential to promote more efficient sports management to improve organizations’ effectiveness and efficiency.

Numerous initiatives are mainly linked to the economic component associated with entrepreneurship and management. However, it is necessary to adopt a broader vision of the phenomenon of entrepreneurship and management, without limiting it and assimilating it exclusively to economic benefit. Entrepreneurial culture can be promoted by attending sustainability.

Sports systems cannot be indifferent to what is undoubtedly the great challenge of the 21st century, and they must face their future from an economically, socially, and environmentally responsible perspective. In recent years, sports have gained significant importance and are considered a great social phenomenon by nature. Consequently, the sports sector has been growing to become one of the most globalized industries in the world (Ratten, 2011), with an enormous impact on the GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

For all these reasons, the study of sports entrepreneurship together with sports management can become two of the main tools to face the economic, political, and social challenges of today to promote more sustainable environments from different points of view:

Regarding the management of sporting events and their impact on the host community;
In the management of sports services, fitness centers, sports associations (clubs), or sports organizations;
In the promotion of entrepreneurial attitudes of professionals in the sports sector, including university students;
Entrepreneurship and sports management applied to inclusive sport.

Finally, also of interest to this Special Issue are the actions and long-term effects that may contribute to the sports sector’s sustainability. Examples include financial fair play, economic feasibility, corporate social responsibility of sports firms, service quality, user satisfaction, sports brand management, emotions on sport, or sports sponsorship.

REFERENCES ON THE TOPIC:

Bjärsholm, D. (2017). Sport and social entrepreneurship: A review of a concept in progress. Journal of Sport Management, 31(2), 191-206.
Bjärsholm, D. (2019). Networking as a cornerstone within the practice of social entrepreneurship in sport. European Sport Management Quarterly, 19(1), 120-137.
González-Serrano, M. H., Añó Sanz, V., & González-García, R. J. (2020). Sustainable Sport Entrepreneurship and Innovation: A Bibliometric Analysis of This Emerging Field of Research. Sustainability, 12(12), 5209.
González-Serrano, M. H., Crespo, J. C., Valantine, I., Dos-Santos, M. A., & Calabuig, F. (2020). Impact of lifestyle oriented-motivation and corporate social responsibility on multiadventure sports firms´ performance. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 1-25.
Hayduk, T., & Walker, M. (2018). Mapping the strategic factor market for sport entrepreneurship. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 14(3), 705-724.
Hayduk, T. (2019). Leveraging sport mega events for international entrepreneurship. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 15(3), 857-881.
Hindle, K., Viala, C., Hammerschmidt, J., Kraus, S., Jones, P., & Calabuig, F. (2019). Converting sporting capacity to entrepreneurial capacity: A process perspective. European journal of international management
Escamilla-Fajardo, P., Núñez-Pomar, J. M., & Gómez-Tafalla, A. M. (2020). Exploring Environmental and Entrepreneurial Antecedents of Social Performance in Spanish Sports Clubs: A Symmetric and Asymmetric Approach. Sustainability, 12(10), 4234.
Hemme, F., Morais, D. G., Bowers, M. T., & Todd, J. S. (2017). Extending sport-based entrepreneurship theory through phenomenological inquiry. Sport management review, 20(1), 92-104.
Núñez-Pomar, J. M., Escamilla-Fajardo, P., & Prado-Gascó, V. (2020). Relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and social performance in Spanish sports clubs. The effect of the type of funding and the level of competition. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 1-19.
Pellegrini, M. M., Rialti, R., Marzi, G., & Caputo, A. (2020). Sport entrepreneurship: A synthesis of existing literature and future perspectives. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 1-32.
Radaelli, G., Dell’Era, C., Frattini, F., & Messeni Petruzzelli, A. (2018). Entrepreneurship and human capital in professional sport: A longitudinal analysis of the Italian soccer league. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 42(1), 70-93.
Ratten, V. (2011). Sport-based entrepreneurship: towards a new theory of entrepreneurship and sport management. International entrepreneurship and management journal, 7(1), 57-69.
Ratten, V. (2012). Sport entrepreneurship: challenges and directions for future research. International journal of entrepreneurial venturing, 4(1), 65-76.
Ratten, V. (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and sport entrepreneurship. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research.https://doiorg/10.1108/IJEBR-06-2020-0387
Ratten, V., & Jones, P. (2020). New challenges in sport entrepreneurship for value creation. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 1-20.

Prof. Dr. Vicente Javier Prado Gascó
Prof. Dr. Maria Huertas Gonzalez Serrano
Prof. Dr. Carlos Pérez Campos
Guest Editors

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Keywords

sport management
sport entrepreneurship
sport consumer
sport sustainability
sports organizations
sports sector
sport consumer loyalty
social impact of sport
entrepreneurial attitudes of students and sports professionals
entrepreneurship and sports management applied to inclusive sport

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 500 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Residents’ Perception of the Impact of Sports Tourism on Sustainable Social Development

by Rómulo Jacobo González-García, Gabriel Mártínez-Rico, Francesc Bañuls-Lapuerta and Ferran Calabuig

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031232 - 21 Jan 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4718

Abstract

The analysis of the social perception of citizens and evaluations of the impact of sport tourism and their support for tourism development can be of great use in the formulation of policies aimed at social cohesion and local development. These actions favor social participation and inclusion, equal opportunities, and more positive attitudes towards sports tourism and inclusive sport. This study aims to analyze the perception and predisposition towards the support of citizens on the impact of sport tourism from a multidimensional perspective. Specifically, this study evaluates the social perception on four measures: social impact, cultural impact, environmental impact, and local policies. The sample of this study is composed of 607 people living in Gran Canaria. A survey with two scales were used, one on the perception of the social, cultural, environmental, economic, and political–administrative impact and the other was on the predisposition to support the development of sport tourism from the perspective of sustainable and inclusive social development. Using the partial least square methodology, the results show that all the study variables were significant except for social impact. It is concluded that there is a favorable social perception towards sport tourism. The results of this study might have a effect on the planning of the tourism sector in Gran Canaria as well as on the policies and regulations governing this activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport-Based Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Sustainable Development Goals)

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11 pages, 252 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Demographic Trends on the High-Quality Development of the Chinese Sports Industry

by Yuping Duan, Ping Li, Di Meng, Te Bu, Xuewei Liu, Stevo Popovic and Radenko M. Matic

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 1039; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14021039 - 17 Jan 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3176

Abstract

Demographic change is a fundamental characteristic of China’s demographic development. The primary problem in China’s population development has shifted in recent years from overall pressure to structural challenges. Using data from China’s seventh demographic census, this study examines the dynamics of sports consumption growth from the perspective of population structure, analyzes the characteristics of the current population structure and the current state of sports consumption development, and establishes a regression to examine the impact of population structure change trends on sports industry development. The study demonstrates that there are varying degrees of correlation between different demographic trends and the sports industry in China’s aging population: the added value per capita of the sports industry is significantly (p < 0.01), positively correlated with the proportion of the elderly population and the number of graduates from general higher education institutions. While the expansion of the sports sector continues to be positive, there are numerous issues that need to be addressed. To encourage the development of a high-quality sports industry, proactive countermeasures are proposed to adjust population policy, increase population quality, and promote the comprehensive upgrading of sports consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport-Based Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Sustainable Development Goals)

11 pages, 257 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digitalized Sports Products and Various Generations in the Era of Industry 4.0

by Marcin Leszczyński, Adam Metelski and Aleksandra Rabczun

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010095 - 22 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3645

Abstract

In modern times of Industry 4.0, digital solutions are used in an increasing number of branches of the economy, and this also applies to sports. Generational cohorts provide a way to understand how different life experiences affect people’s views of the world. There is a new growing group of sports fans—modern fans—who have been functioning in the digital world since birth, and therefore have their specific behavioral patterns, habits, and expectations. For this reason the sports industry must adapt properly to continue to develop. This article aims to identify how consumers representing various generations on the Polish market consume sports products provided by digitized channels. The study focused on three areas: the source of information about the sport, devices on which consumers watch sports and the evaluation of the attractiveness of sports products (full games, game highlights and behind the scenes). The study was conducted in the form of an online survey in 2021, and 581 Polish volleyball fans took part in it. The results indicate that younger generations are more likely to get sports information from social media and less likely to watch games on TV than older generations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport-Based Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Sustainable Development Goals)

11 pages, 579 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Models of Sports Management in Fitness Centres. Influence of Sex, Age and Sport Frequency. Linear Models vs. Qualitative Comparative Analysis

by Fernando García-Pascual, Carlos Pérez-Campos, Joaquín García Sánchez, Ana Soto-Rubio and Sergio Aguado Berenguer

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 8995; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168995 - 11 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2345

Abstract

Knowing the perceptions of users of sports services has always been an object of analysis within sports management. This paper attempts to analyse what influences the satisfaction and future intentions of fitness centre customers, beyond management variables, by using two different methodologies. A sample of 389 users of a private sports centre was used. Both linear relationships between variables and the combination of sets were analysed using fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis fsQCA. It is concluded that management variables (service quality, satisfaction and perceived value) are very important for the prediction of management models, but that, according to the interaction methodology between variables, both frequency and sociodemographic variables play an important role in achieving satisfied and loyal users of the sports service. For the prediction of customers’ future intentions, within the analysed sets, it is observed that satisfaction and perceived value are the most predictive variables (raw coverage 0.66). Therefore, and as a consequence, a high number of satisfied and loyal users of the service will allow the economic viability of this service to be achieved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport-Based Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Sustainable Development Goals)

15 pages, 328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Passion for Work on Performance Variables in Sports Clubs

by Paloma Escamilla-Fajardo, Mario Alguacil and Ana M. Gómez-Tafalla

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2920; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052920 - 08 Mar 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2172

Abstract

Entrepreneurial orientation and passion for work have been widely studied due to their effects on the behaviour and attitude of management teams in the short- and long-term. However, despite the influences of these variables on the sustainability and survival of an entity, there is a gap when considering the effects of these two performance variables in sports organisations. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to understand the influences of entrepreneurial orientation and passion for work on service quality and sporting performance. To this end, 199 Spanish non-profit sports clubs were analysed using instruments with good psychometric properties. Data analysis was carried out using two complementary methodologies: hierarchical regression models and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. The findings show that innovation and risk-taking influence performance variables and that the inclusion of passion for work significantly increases the explanatory capacity of the model. On the other hand, it was also observed that entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and passion for work are part of the combination that allows the expected result to be explored to a greater extent. Theoretical and practical implications were drawn from these findings, which can be used to improve the economic and social sustainability of sport organisations. The study also provides useful information for managers and directors of sport organisations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport-Based Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Sustainable Development Goals)

23 pages, 557 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Linked(In)g Sport Management Education with the Sport Industry: A Preliminary Study

by Samuel López-Carril, Miguel Villamón and María Huertas González-Serrano

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2275; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042275 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2605

Abstract

Social media are one of the most valuable management tools used by sport managers in the fulfilment of their daily tasks. However, the studies that share and analyse the impact of educational experiences that incorporate social media into sport management education for professional purposes are scarce to date. Thus, this study presents an educational innovation piloted in a sport management course where LinkedIn—the social media most associated with the professional sphere—is introduced through an experiential learning methodology, as a driver of students’ career development and as a tool to keep up to date and interact with the sport industry. To assess the learning outcomes, a new scale was developed and tested. A total of 90 Spanish undergraduate sport management students (M = 22.71; SD = 3.84) participated in the study, partaking in a pre-test and a post-test. Regarding the results linked to the testing of the scale, the statistical analysis reflects the scale’s two-dimensional nature, explaining 68.78% of the variance, presenting good psychometric properties (α = 0.95). On the other hand, significant increases in all the scale items between the two measures were obtained, with large effects size in the two dimensions (Cohen’s d ≥ 0.80). Therefore, it is concluded that LinkedIn can help to develop the professional profile of sport management students, Linked(In)g what is taught in the classroom with what the sport industry demands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport-Based Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Sustainable Development Goals)

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12 pages, 256 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sports Entrepreneurship

by Paloma Escamilla-Fajardo, Juan M. Núñez-Pomar, Ferran Calabuig-Moreno and Ana M. Gómez-Tafalla

Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8493; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208493 - 15 Oct 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 8417

Abstract

Sports entrepreneurship has been considered an important part of sports organisations when overcoming crisis situations. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of the crisis derived from COVID-19 on sports entrepreneurship and whether there are differences in the prediction of entrepreneurship on service quality in non-profit sports clubs. To this end, 145 sports clubs were analysed before and after the outbreak of the virus in society. Paired sample-t tests were carried out to determine the differences in variables studied before (Time I) and after (Time II) the COVID-19 outbreak, and correlations and hierarchical linear regressions were used to analyse the relationship between the variables studied in the two different stages. The results obtained show that risk-taking and innovation are significantly higher after the appearance of COVID-19, while proactivity has not undergone significant changes. Finally, the relationship between sports entrepreneurship and service quality is positive and significant in both stages but stronger before the crisis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport-Based Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Sustainable Development Goals)

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