Sports mega-events in the perception of the local community: the case of Itaquera region in São Paulo at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

Abstract

Hosting sporting mega-events involve considerable investment in and significant engagement with local communities. This paper contributes to the burgeoning literature about sporting mega event’s socio-geographical impacts on tourism, employment, urban regeneration, and socio-economic and cultural benefits. Within the context of 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, we assess, utilizing interview data from local communities, the impact of the construction of the 2014 World Cup’s opening venue, ‘Arena Corinthians’ soccer stadium, in Itaquera, as well as other infrastructure developments more widely in the East Zone of São Paulo. The results point to the diversity of opinions among the resident community about the real legacies resulting from this sport mega-event.

Notes

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10. Coakley and Souza, “Sport Mega-events,” 580–9.

11. Ibid.

12. Horne and Manzenreiter, “An Introduction to the Sociology,” 1–24.

13. Matos, “Hosting Mega Sports Events.”

14. Getz, Event Management and Event Tourism; Matias, Organização de Eventos.

15. Allen et al., Festival and Special Event Management.

16. Gursoy and Kendall, “Hosting Mega Events,” 603–23.

17. Cashman, “Impact of the Games.”

18. Pedro et al., Gestão de Eventos.

19. Allen et al., Festival and Special Event Management; Preuss, “Lasting Effects of Major Sporting Events,” 1–6; Preuss, “Winners and Losers of the Olympic Games,” 416–39; Rubio, Megaeventos esportivos, legado e responsabilidade social.

20. Preuss and Solberg, “Attracting Major Sporting Events,” 391–411; Rubio, Megaeventos esportivos, legado e responsabilidade social.

21. Hall, Hallmark Tourist Events; Allen et al., Festival and Special Event Management; Essex and Chalckley, “Mega-sporting Events in Urban and Regional Policy,” 201–33; Matias, Organização de Eventos.

22. Allen et al., Festival and Special Event Management; Getz, Event Management and Event Tourism; Hall, “Geography, Marketing and the Selling of Places,” 61–84.

23. Girginov and Hills, “A Sustainable Sports Legacy,” 2091–116.

24. Preuss, “Le implicazioni economiche delle Olimpiadi”; Preuss, The Economics of Staging the Olympics; Preuss, “Lasting Effects of Major Sporting Events.”

25. Kasimati, “Economic Aspects and the Summer Olympics,” 433–44; Preuss and Solberg, “Attracting Major Sporting Events,” 391–411; Cottle, South Africa’s World Cup.

26. Preuss, “Lasting Effects of Major Sporting Events.”

27. Rolnik, “Para um alojamento sustentável.”

28. Ibid.

29. Essex and Chalkley, “Mega-sporting Events in Urban and Regional Policy,” 201–33.

30. Hall, “Urban Entrepreneurship, Corporate Interests,” 58–71.

31. Allen et al., Festival and Special Event Management; Matias, Organização de Eventos and Tenan, Eventos.

32. Preuss, “Winners and Losers of the Olympic Games,” 416–39.

33. Gursoy and Kendall, “Hosting Mega Events,” 603–23.

34. Ibid.

35. Gursoy et al., “Resident Attitudes,” 79–105.

36. D’Andrea, “Itaquera, muito além da Copa do Mundo.”

37. Consultoria Accenture, “Estádio da abertura do Mundial.”

38. The various categories and ranges of family income are shown on the City Hall of São Paulo website.

39. According to interviewee – Questionnaire: Perception of Itaquera’s population on the megaevent Soccer World Cup of Brazil 2014 in São Paulo. Personal Communication, 2014, 2015.

40. Consultoria Accenture, “Estádio da abertura do Mundial.”

41. São Paulo Outlook, “An Overview of the Business Sector.”

42. Veal, Metodologia de pesquisa em lazer e turismo.

43. Quivy and Campenhoudt, Manual de Investigação em Ciências Sociais.

44. Gursoy and Kendall, “Hosting Mega Events,” 603–23.

45. Veal, Metodologia de pesquisa em lazer e turismo.

46. Sousa, Como fazer investigação.

47. According to interviewee – Questionnaire: Perception of Itaquera’s population on the megaevent Soccer World Cup of Brazil 2014 in São Paulo. Personal Communication, 2014, 2015.

48. Ibid.

49. Itaquera district interviewed. According to interviewee – Questionnaire: Perception of Itaquera’s population on the megaevent Soccer World Cup of Brazil 2014 in São Paulo. Personal Communication, 2014, 2015.

50. World Cup Popular Committees File (2011).

51. According to interviewee – Questionnaire: Perception of Itaquera’s population on the megaevent Soccer World Cup of Brazil 2014 in São Paulo. Personal Communication, 2014, 2015.

52. Ibid.

53. City Hall of São Paulo (2014).

54. According to interviewee – Questionnaire: Perception of Itaquera’s population on the megaevent Soccer World Cup of Brazil 2014 in São Paulo. Personal Communication, 2014, 2015.

55. Ibid.

56. Itaquera blog 360, “Por justiça e proteção.”

57. According to interviewee – Questionnaire: Perception of Itaquera’s population on the megaevent Soccer World Cup of Brazil 2014 in São Paulo. Personal Communication, 2014, 2015.

58. Ibid.

59. Ibid.

60. Ibid.

61. Ibid.

62. Preuss, “Winners and Losers of the Olympic Games,” 416–39.

63. Essex and Chalckley, “Mega-sporting Events in Urban and Regional Policy,” 201–33.