The Effects of Sports
Regeneration on Host
Communities
Charles Spring MA BA(Hons) MinstSRM
Research into the Effects of Sports Regeneration Projects on
The Host Community
The following research was carried out by staff and students from the University of Derby
during 2001,02 and 03. The students are studying on the BA (Hons) Sports Studies and
BA (Hons) Sport and Recreation Management.
Background:
In the lead up to the Commonwealth Games and then following the games research was
carried out ascertaining some of the social and economic benefits and costs to the public
of Manchester there were several reasons for this. Whilst much has been discussed
concerning the economic impacts (Roche 2001, Crawshaw 2001, Shibli 1998), and there
is some recent in depth discussion on the social benefits of sports (Scottish Executive
2001), there appears to be a general consensus amongst sports and other organisations
that there are benefits derived from sports regeneration. There are alternative views that
there is no hard evidence to prove the social points that are often a part of these beliefs
(Long & Sanderson 1998). This is also supported by articles in the press highlighting
some of the flaws in the Commonwealth games build up with loss of jobs and a debt.
(Guardian 2002) Many reasons have also been identified affecting access and influences
from society that affect why people may or may not participate within sports (Carrington
and McDonald 2001, Hylton, Bramham, Jackson and Nesti 2001). Remember that one of
the key reasons that sport is used is to gain involvement from the public. The legacy from
staging the Commonwealth Games is partially the structures that were used and the
regeneration of East Manchester. Part of the process of regeneration, it could be argued,
should be to establish what the benefits have been. What is usually found though is that
reports and other information consist of all the positive outcomes identified, because, it
may be argued further, this is what is being searched for. What about the negative effects
within areas of regeneration? People may argue that the costs are outweighed by the
benefits, but for whom? What is possibly needed is a system to identify both the social
costs and benefits of large sporting developments and then to align this against benefits
for whom and costs to whom. To this end the research undertaken here it is hoped will
begin a process of development to this end but initially it is hoped that a rounded view of
the Games is identified. Looking at both positive and negative impressions of the games.
This process has not been about identifying one over the other it is an impartial look art
some aspects of the overall regeneration project that has been an ongoing part of this area
of Manchester for some period of time. It is hoped that this will add to knowledge in this
area and aid in understanding more fully the issues with these projects.
Research Structure and Method:
A group of 130 students from the University of Derby undertook research based on the
perceived benefits and costs to the people of Manchester of hosting the Commonwealth
Games. This was under the guidance of myself and other members of staff at the
University. Of these 60 returned material that could be presumed for these purposes to be
valid. This was based on how they undertook the study and methods of research
undertaken. Which was determined on sources used and if they undertook interviews with
any key stakeholders associated with the games. What is hoped to be raised by this
research is that there are sometimes downsides to using sport for regeneration purposes
and whilst it will not be stated that sport should not be used for this it should be with
caution that we enter into some of these schemes and be prepared for possible issues that
are raised.
Sources that the researchers used included Local Authority information sources,
Commonwealth Games 2002, the population in the areas affected by new developments
and several other key stakeholders for the games and other secondary sources of
information to support this primary research. The students were given guidance in an
inductive style on what type of information was required and how it could be sought.
They were asked to determine:
Who the major stakeholders were.
How it affected the local community.
What were the key impacts felt by the community.
The research initially was carried out prior to the games and then following the games to
get a balance of what was expected before the event and then what was the reality post
the event. It should be noted that a different group of students was used each time though
the same processes where followed. What is interesting is that prior to the games it
appeared that there was more negativity felt in the general public. Key stakeholder groups
were very positive and looking forward to the event. Post event there appeared to be
euphoria with much more positivity amongst the general public, this it is felt was
reflected in the press and at all levels of local and national government. Though this does
not mean people were not effected negatively at all, there was the perception that council
tax could increase and costs to the city generally in terms of the finance of the games and
regeneration project may become a burden. Plus other issues identified below.
Findings:
Below is a list of key benefits that where determined overall from both sections of this
research and it included:
New facilities
Increased Tourism
Economic benefits
Better infrastructure
Increased standing for the city
Improvement to the area
A kick-start for local businesses that had been struggling
Below is a list of the key costs that where perceived by residents, other stakeholders and
businesses especially in the run up to the games though there was a percentage of people
who still indicated some of these concerns post the event:
Overcrowding in the city (this was noted by a similar number of people both prior and
post event)
Noise pollution
Unused facilities
Increase in council tax (again noted in both surveys and increased post event)
It could all be a failure
Damage to local shops and businesses
Worried of effect to economy from the games
Increased crime rate during games
It has to be remembered that this initial research will be followed by further investigations
to support it. It is understood that this is narrow in its scope and needs further
development, but it is felt it opens some interesting doors of perceptions by key
stakeholders affected through these projects.
The positive effects have a tendency to follow the key benefits as expressed in local and
national governments beliefs in how cities benefit from such events and as such
concentrate on financial and structural gain. They also mirror benefits recently identified
in research carried out in Manchester that also notes that the local population in an
overriding majority would like to see another event on the scale of the Commonwealth
Games hosted again. The negative effects appear to express mixed concerns such as loss
of economy for local business, white elephant facilities, crime and environmental
concerns with noise and spatial problems.
New facilities are an important factor in regeneration programmes they assist in
highlighting the event and post the main event, provide new places for the public to see
further important happenings. In some cases they replace outdated facilities as with the
City of Manchester Stadium being the base for Manchester City Football Club. Further
research is going to be carried out on the effects of the move from the old Kippax stadium
to the new City of Manchester Stadium. They also may be used as a catalyst in other
regeneration projects; such as Sport City which has become part of the Institute for Sport
and reclamation of a large area of brown field land. Where this may be counteracted, as a
benefit is when old facilities are removed or closed moved to new areas and the new
facilities do not directly replace them. It has been noted that two swimming pools were
closed in East Manchester during the build up to the games. (Chaudhary 2001) Student
questionnaires identified that over 80% of people questioned in Manchester about the
new facilities thought them worthwhile and adequate replacement for other facilities they
replaced. This though maybe because they were not aware of the old ones in the first
place but does identify some level of satisfaction. Another issue that was highlighted is
that often though the local population do not feel ownership for the facilities as they are
seen, especially in the Institute for Sport, as only being for the elite. Maybe this is
reflected in the swimming complex also whereas local baths are for the local people.
Though it must be said the evidence does not identify this.
An increase in tourism is also a positive financial benefit to an area. The Sheffield World
Student Games generated an increase in tourism spend in Sheffield via the sports events
and this has extended beyond the games with economic benefits for the city being
indicated in research that has been undertaken.(Sheffield.gov.uk 2002) Judging by TV
coverage and information obtained by student questionnaires for this research it appears
that the Commonwealth Games will have had similar impacts, the games were seen as a
success with businesses benefiting from the attendance at the games events, also there
appears to be a ongoing feelgood factor within Manchester derived from the hosting of
the games. However initial evidence suggests that for much of the population these
economic benefits do not equate to much in terms of social benefit. The question that
could be posed in this case therefore is how does this money and other benefits feed back
to the population in terms of social benefit? Also are the companies that are generating
this income local or national concerns or even multi-national concerns? Does the money
go back into the community or is there leakage? A lot of questions have been posed and
there are not always clear answers to be garnered from them and they set the scene for
further research. This would also support the aforementioned cost-benefit structure that
would seek to enable a more synoptic and complete appraisal to be achieved. A further
piece of research to go along with this is to be carried out in the near future identifying
some of the issues with the move from the Kippax stadium to the new City of Manchester
stadium.
References:
Carrington B and McDonald I (2001) ‘Race’ Sport and British Society Routledge
Chaudhary V. (2001) Why Manchester may rue the day it won the Commonwealth Games,
Guardian Newspaper www.sport/guardian.co.uk
Crawshaw (2001) Major Sports Events in Sheffield Report published for Sheffield City Council
Hylton K, Bramham P, Jackson D and Nesti M (2001) Sports Development: Policy, Process and
Practice Routledge
Long J & Sanderson I (1998) The Social Benefits of Sports – Where’s the Proof? Paper from
Sport in the City Conference Proceedings
Meegan R and Mitchell A (2001) ‘Its not a community round here its Neighbourhood:
Neighbourhood Change and Cohesion in Urban Regeneration Policies; Urban Studies Vol. 38 No
12
Mustafa H (1994) Conflict of Multiple Interests in Cost-Benefit Analysis International Journal
of Public Sector Management Vol. 7 Issue 3 MCB University Press
Pearce D.W. (1989) Cost Benefit Analysis Macmillan 2nd Ed.
Roche M. (2001) .Major Sport Events - Learning From Experience; Sprig Conference UMIST
Manchester
Roche M. ((2000) Mega-events & Modernity – Olympics and expos in the growth of global
culture Routledge
Sheffield.gov.uk (2002) Major Sports Events in Sheffield; A report by Kronos on the impacts in
the last decade for Sheffield on sports events.
Shibli S. (1998) The Economic Impact of Two Major Sporting Events in Two of the UK’s
‘National Cities of Sport’ Paper from Sport in the City Conference Proceedings
Spring C. (2002) Unpublished Research Findings University of Derby
Weed M. (2001) Towards a Model of Cross-Sectoral Policy Development in Leisure the Case of
Sport and Tourism; Leisure Studies Vol. 20 No 2
Biography:
Charles Spring is currently working as a Senior Lecturer in Sport Management for the
University of Derby and is a member of ISRM. He worked at Birmingham College of
Food Tourism and Creative Studies lecturing in same subjects for four years prior to his
appointment at Derby in September 2001. Previously he worked in the Leisure and Sports
industry as a gym Manager and coach in and around Birmingham. He has his first degree
in Leisure Management and his Masters degree in Tourism Business Administration and
is currently studying for a PhD. His key interests are the sociological impacts of sports
and leisure on communities and how, through sports, communities may benefit directly.
In his spare time he enjoys practising karate which he has done for nearly thirty years.