Towards a sport cluster model: the ocean racing cluster in Brittany

Abstract

Research question: This research develops deductively a conceptual framework for the detection and analysis of sport clusters.

Research methods: We test this framework in the ocean racing cluster in Brittany, France. Primary data collection comprises 34 interviews and 8 observations. Secondary data consisted of organisational information and archival data. Data were analysed with NVivo.

Results and findings: The suggested framework consists of location-specific factors (LSFs) that determine the development and sustainability of a sport cluster and 10 types of cluster organisations (CLORs) as typical members. We find that all suggested LSFs are relevant. Some CLORs receive less attention than others. Shipyards, professional sport organisations, governing bodies and marine equipment firms have key roles in the ocean racing cluster.

Implications: The sport cluster framework is consistent and applicable to different contexts. Further sport cluster studies in different sports and countries are recommended to consolidate the concept and to enable practitioners to better understand and create sport clusters.

Keywords:

• sport cluster
• location-specific factor
• cluster organisation
• ocean racing

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank our interviewees and the cluster organisation Eurolarge Innovation for their participation in our study and we gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Paris-Sud University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.