Identifying social impact from supplemental events: a research framework

ABSTRACT

This paper develops a framework for identifying and fostering social impact for ‘supplemental’ (cultural, sporting and other) events which run in tandem with major sporting events. The framework links the aims of supplemental events with a classification of event activities in terms of achieved social impact and potential social benefits. Data supporting the study were collected from over 150 interviews conducted with tourists and local attendees at two supplemental events (Fan Zone and Trophy Tour) held in Australia as part of the 2015 International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup. Short-term social impacts emerging from the findings included a shared sense of community resulting from the atmosphere and ambience of the events. Potential longer-term social benefits, such as healthier lifestyles, were also identified by both tourists and locals. The framework enhances the current understanding of strategies for fostering social impact and potential social benefits by providing an analytic tool to examine supplemental events and their effects on tourists and locals.

KEYWORDS:

• Major sporting events
• supplemental events
• event leverage
• social impact
• social benefits
• liminality strategies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. The last UCL Trophy Tour sponsored by Unicredit was conducted in 2017 and included 16 Central and Eastern European countries where Unicredit had a presence. European and worldwide versions of the Tour have subsequently been sponsored by Nissan and Heineken.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Leonie Lockstone-Binney

Leonie Lockstone-Binney is an Associate Professor and Research Director in the Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel Management at Griffith University, Australia. Her main area of research expertise relates to volunteering, specifically in event and tourism settings. Leonie has published her work in several top-tier journals and collaborates on projects with leading researchers from Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Gerry Urwin

Gerry Urwin is an Associate Professor in Business Strategy in the School of Strategy and Leadership at Coventry University in the UK. His research interests include business strategy and new business models, knowledge management and project management.

Scott Bingley

Scott Bingley is a Senior Lecturer in information systems and programme director of SAP at Victoria University, Australia. He is the Director of Victoria University's SAP Next-Gen Lab and Director of VU's SAP Academic Competence Centre (ACC) – APJ region.  Scott's research interests include small business and community based organisations, and their use of ICT.

Stephen Burgess

Stephen Burgess is an Honorary Professor in the Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities at Victoria University, Australia. His interests include the use of the use of digital technologies by small businesses (particularly in the tourism field) and community-based organisations (including local sporting clubs). He has published in leading information systems journals and received a number of competitive research grants in these areas.