Stadium Games in Entrepreneurial Cities in China: A State Project

Abstract

Cities in China have started to build sport-related infrastructure in earnest; over 1.6 million sport facilities (including 1,093 large-scale sport stadiums and arenas) were built in China from 2003 to 2013. However, operating losses have created concerns of a debt crisis, sparking debate as to whether stadium and arena development can improve the quality of life of residents. This paper examines China’s arena development strategy over the past decade, and finds that development has been undertaken by local governments for two purposes: (1) local development and growth to increase urban competitiveness; and (2) establishing “human-centered” infrastructure to symbolically position the city to gain the state’s sustained support in competition for resources with other cities. Thus, cities do not invest public funds principally in the name of increased tourism, commercial development, or even civic pride but rather as a means for the city to be elevated in the eyes of the central government.

中国创业城市的体育运动会:一个国家项目

中国的城市已经开始认真建设体育相关的基础设施;2003年至2013年, 中国共新建体育设施160多万个(其中大型体育场馆1093个)。然而, 运营亏损引发了人们对债务危机的担忧, 引发了有关体育场和场馆开发能否改善居民生活质量的争论。本文考察了中国近十年来的竞技体育发展战略, 发现地方政府的发展有两个目的:1）地区的发展和提高城市竞争力;2)建立“以人为本”的基础设施, 象征性地定位城市, 以次与其他地区竞争国家在资源方面的持续支持。因此, 城市耗费公共资金主要不是为了增加旅游业、商业发展甚至是公民自豪感, 而是为了让城市在中央政府的眼中得到提升。

Keywords:

• Infrastructure
• urban development
• public private partnerships
• sports facilities
• status

关键词:

• 基础设施
• 城市发展
• 公私伙伴关系
• 体育设施
• 状态

Notes

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Many of the venues were planned and built to bid for one-time major sporting events such as the 2008 Summer Olympic Games (at international level) and the National Games (at national level). After the games, some of the stadiums and venues are used to host professional franchises such as Chinese Soccer League and Chinese Basketball Association teams.

2 Part of the facilities in this park were completed in 2014 to hold Rugby, Beach Volleyball, Hockey, and BMX events.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hanhan Xue

Hanhan Xue is an Assistant Professor of Department of Sport Management at Florida State University. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Alberta, Canada. Her research and teaching focuses on the field of management of international business for professional sport organizations, particularly in the Chinese market, as well as e-sports. She is a fellow in the FSU Center for Sport, Health, and Equitable Development, where she conducts community needs assessments for urban redevelopment projects in Tallahassee, FL. Her research has been featured in major international journals, such as European Sport Management Quarterly, International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, and International Review for the Sociology of Sport.

Daniel S. Mason

Daniel Mason is a Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. His research examines sports leagues and franchises, cities, events, and infrastructure development.