Girish Ramchandani

The relationship between ownership structure and club performance in the English Premier League

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is three‐fold. First, to explore the relationship between the financial and sporting performance of clubs competing in the English Premier League (EPL). Second, to investigate the effect of different models of EPL club ownership on financial and league performance. Third, to review the finances of EPL clubs in the context of UEFAs Financial Fair Play regulations.Design/methodology/approach – Financial data from annual reports for the period 2001‐2010 was collected for 20 EPL clubs. Correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between the finances of EPL clubs and their league position. One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were then used to examine the effect of ownership type on clubs’ financial and league performances. Where the results of ANOVA testing revealed statistically significant differences between groups, these were investigated further using appropriate post hoc procedures.Findings – The stock market model of ownership returned bette...

The inspirational effects of three major sport events

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether attending one‐off sport events might inspire audiences to increase their participation in sport or recreational physical activity.Design/methodology/approach – Primary data collection was undertaken with spectators aged 16 and over at three major sport events held in the UK in 2010. The findings are based on an aggregate sample of 2,312 respondents.Findings – Around two‐thirds of respondents reported that their event experience had inspired them to increase their participation in sport or physical activity. The inspiration effect varied according to age and respondents’ predisposition to sport. The main factors that caused the inspiration were linked directly to the athletes and the competition. The provision of information about opportunities to undertake sport was found to be the most important lever to convert inspiration into participation.Originality/value – Evidence of the impact of major sport events on mass participation is relatively s...

The hidden benefits of non-elite mass participation sports events: an economic perspective

This paper examines the hidden financial benefits that non-elite events are capable of delivering for host cities. The paper provides examples of how mass participation (and other non-elite) events can generate substantial economic impacts comparable to and, in some cases greater than, those associated with elite events. Cost-effectiveness of mass participation events, relative to major elite sports events, is discussed.

The global economics of sport.

1. The Historical and Economic Development of the Sport Market 2. The Global Sport Market 3. Global Sports Organizations 4. Global Sports Events 5. Global Sport Corporations 6. Sport Broadcasting 7. Sports Sponsorship 8. Globalisation of the Sport Market Costs and Benefits

Measuring attendance: issues and implications for estimating the impact of free-to-view sports events

A feature of many non-elite sports events, especially those conducted in public places, is that they are free-to-view. The article focuses on the methodological issue of estimating spectator attendance at free-to-view events and the consequences for impact evaluation. Using empirical data from three case studies, the article outlines various approaches to measuring attendance and discusses the key issues and implications for evaluating free-to-view sports events.

Towards a model for measuring holistic performance of professional Football clubs

This paper introduces an experimental model to measure the holistic performance of professional football clubs. The model utilizes a selection of established financial and sporting indicators, which are weighted in accordance with their perceived relative importance and in relation to components of financial management and governing body regulations. The paper uses data pertaining to clubs competing in the English Premier League to demonstrate the outputs of the model. The authors argue that although the model is experimental, it still provides a useful platform to analyse performance of football clubs through further scientific investigation.

Factors influencing the inspirational effect of major sports events on audience sport participation behaviour.

The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the factors that determine the extent to which spectators attending one-off sports events feel inspired to increase their own participation in sport. The research considers both the socio-demographic and sport participation profile of the audience as well as the characteristics of an event as predictors of inspiration. The methodological approach involved secondary analysis of data collected from audiences across 10 events held in England since 2010. The findings are based on an aggregate sample of 7458 respondents. The statistical method used to analyse the data was multinomial logistic regression. The results show that the majority of respondents were inspired by the event that they attended, but the strength of the inspiration effect varied significantly according to their age; place of residence; ethnic origin; sport participation profile; and whether or not they had been exposed to information about opportunities to undertake sport. Moreover, events featuring team sports, non-age restricted events and elite events incorporating a mass participation component were also found to be positively related to inspiration. Several policy implications are identified for event organizers and public funders of both elite and community sport.

Evaluating event economic impact : rigour versus reality?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the methodologies used to evaluate major events. It aims to establish the most practically‐relevant methodology for analysing the economic impact of routinely‐held major events and to identify the key methodological issues for future consideration.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on empirical research undertaken by the Sport Industry Research Centre using the direct expenditure approach (DEA).Findings – The DEA is the most pragmatic and cost‐effective method for evaluating the economic impact of medium‐sized major events. However, the approach is only as robust as the quality of data utilised to derive estimates. Key emerging methodological issues are measuring attendance, consideration of direct first‐round leakage and treatment of organisational spend and event surplus/deficit.Research limitations/implications – The DEA limits the measurement of economic impact to first‐round spending associated with an event. It is not suitable for measuri...

Competitiveness of the English Premier League (1992-2010) and ten European football leagues (2010)

This paper examines the state of competitiveness in top division football leagues in ten European countries. Potential factors that might affect, or be influenced by, competitive balance are also explored. Using alternative indicators of competitive balance, the research found that with the passage of time the English Premier League has become less competitive, which coincides with the growing incidence of overseas investment in English clubs. The French Ligue 1 emerged as the most competitive league (out of ten) in Europe on most indicators in 2010, whereas the Dutch Eredivise was the least balanced. Further investigation revealed a strong statistically significant relationship between league competitiveness and league size (number of clubs) and a moderately strong, albeit insignificant, effect of a league’s competitive balance on its popularity (attendance). However, the link between competitiveness and the perceived quality of countries’ football leagues (as per UEFA association rankings) was relatively modest and insignificant. The findings provide a useful baseline for examining the effect of UEFA’s financial fair play regulations on the competitiveness of football leagues across key European markets in the years to come.

Limited or lasting legacy? : the effect of non-mega sport event attendance on participation

Research question: It is often claimed by event promoters that hosting major sports events will inspire increased participation at grass-roots level. However, evidence of this linkage is scarce. This paper addresses the research gap by examining the legacy effect of ‘non-mega’ events on the sport participation levels of those who attend them. Research methods: Data gathered using a combination of face-to-face and online surveys with spectators during and following their attendance at one of nine events, held in England between 2010 and 2012, yielded 434 matched responses. Results and findings: The analysis revealed different types of increases in post-event participation behaviour of both previously active and inactive respondents, including ‘initial’, ‘sustained’ and ‘lagged’ effects. However, attributing causality for these positive changes in activity behaviour to a single event is problematic due to the range of other factors that audiences may experience with the passage of time, including other events. Implications: The key implication of the research for management practice is that major sport events can have a positive market penetration effect but market development effects are as yet unproven.