The Social Benefits in Sports City Planning: A Case study Examination of Manchester and Melbourne

Abstract

The relatively recent emergence of global sport has occurred at such a rate that it has been called one of the largest and fastest growing components of the world economy (Cornelissen, 2007; Higham & Hinch, 2002). One of the latest manifestations of this growth is the emergence of sports cities (Smith, 2010). The concept of sports cities is an ill-defined term, and one that has emerged in conjunction with the growth in global sporting events - events which have left a legacy of stadiums and other facilities in host cities (Smith, 2010). Many cities have adopted the term in order to optimise sport infrastructure, extend event legacies, and leverage the associated economic opportunities. Despite their abundance, there is little research that explores sports cities, and less still that explores the extent to which social benefits form part of their planning. To address this gap, a conceptual framework has been developed that combines two fields of research; sport and urban planning. The framework is derived from Coalter’s examination of the social benefits of sport, and Gehl's investigation into the components of liveable cities (Coalter, 2005, 2007b; Gehl, 2010, 2011). Using this conceptual framework, an analysis is conducted on the two leading sports cities of Manchester and Melbourne. This research explores whether their sports city planning included the provision of social benefits. Through the use of observation, document analysis, and interviews, the research reveals the sports city planning process from the perspectives of those involved in it.