Events and Economic Development: Bridging Theory and Practice

by Mike Duignan (Editor)

Overview

Events and Economic Development explores the economic impact and developmental implications of designing, planning, and delivering major events – from cultural events like the Notting Hill Carnival and Day of the Dead, to sporting events like the Olympics to the Super Bowl.

This book comprises 24 chapters, each addressing various diverse and interconnected topics related to the economic and development implications of hosting events. Each chapter follows a consistent structure, beginning with the aim and learning objective(s), followed by theoretical focuses and the significance of these perspectives. Similarly, practical focuses and their significance are also outlined. The main body of each chapter consists of an 800 to 2000-word argument. Following the argument, chapters include managerial, policy, and/or research implications, explicitly mapping how they relate to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Each chapter concludes with a series of quizzes to test knowledge and debate questions to engage learners in discussing and interrogating the argument.

Some of the topics covered include:

• Nation Branding through Events
• Urban Transformation via Events
• Commercialization of Culture and Events
• Crisis and Resilience in Event Management
• Sustainability in Event Hosting
• Cultural Identity and Heritage Preservation
• Globalization of Sports and Festivals
• Media and Narrative Evolution
• Ethics and Sponsorship in Events
• Community Impacts and Gentrification

This innovative, topical, engaging, and comprehensive book is an essential reading and teaching resource for all students and lecturers in events that are easy to integrate into educational programmes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032790572
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/20/2025
Series:	Routledge How Events Transform Society series
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mike Duignan is a Professeur at the Sorbonne, University of Paris 1, France, and the Director of Research, Intelligence, and Education at Trivandi, UK. Since 2021, Mike has been the Editor-in-Chief of the leading peer-reviewed journal for the study and analysis of events: Event Management Journal. Formerly, he was a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida, USA; the Director of the UK Olympic Studies Centre; and a Reader and Head of Department at the University of Surrey, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Section I Event-led destination development 1 (Re)branding a nation through a sport mega-event; 2 How ‘Dark Mofo’ transformed Hobart; 3 Nation-building and the African Cup of Nations: A case study of Cameroon; 4 Symbolic and significant: Qatar delivers a huge 2022 FIFA World Cup to propel a future legacy of sporting events in the Middle East; Section II Commercialising events 5 Buying and selling Day of the Dead: A history of the holiday’s commercialization; 6 From rebellion to revenue: Dance music reckonings; 7 Events and unhealthy sponsorship: An analysis of Euro 2024; Section III Event-led urban transformation 8 No more hunger games: From Olympic legacy to livability Olympics; 9 Gastrodevelopment and gentrification: How food promotes urban development and displacement; 10 Liveable Cities and the infra-ordinary versus the extraordinary: Commonwealth Games 2022 and Birmingham’s urban transformation; 11 How do festivals catalyse growth in Banyuwangi, Indonesia?; 12 Australia and the Olympic Games: An outline of participation and Games hosting; Section IV Event bidding and business models 13 Leaner, cost-effective, practical: How the 2032 Brisbane Games could revolutionise the Olympics; 14 Crisis or transition: Understanding the wave of Australian music festival cancellations; 15 Media events 2.0: How social media developments impact event narratives; 16 Australian music festivals: Is the current crisis a perfect storm or passing shower?; 17 Esports and the Olympic Games: Hopeless marriage or obvious pairing?; 18 Are major sports events worth hosting? A closer look; 19 The Rugby World Cup: A major event in an odd-shaped world; Section V Event-related Identity Formation 20 Global migrant festivals: London Notting Hill Carnival versus the West-Indian American Parade Day; 21 Commonwealth Games: Civic sponsorship of festive football in medieval and early modern Britain; 22 The Super Bowl: The risk of inauthentic brand storytelling; 23 Socially responsible live music: Do fans/consumers care?; 24 Conclusions and recommendations

Editorial Reviews

"This is an excellent compendium of articles, championing the power and potential of all types of events and festivals from across the globe and showcasing just how central they are to economic development and leaving a personal and communal legacies for the places that host them. A must read for all professionals, professors, and students!"

Mark Camley, Executive Director of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London Legacy Development Corporation and Former CEO of The Royal Parks, UK

 

"Events and Economic Development: Bridging Theory and Practice is an innovative resource that explores the profound roles events play in shaping cultural identity, urban transformation, and sustainable development. Through comprehensive global case studies and practical frameworks tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this book bridges theory and application seamlessly. It provides educators, students, and practitioners with essential insights to navigate the complexities of event management."

Dr Shushu Chen, Associate Professor, University of Birmingham, UK

 

"Increasingly events and festivals are being recognised as enablers for economic growth by communities and governments across the world. Events and Economic Development provides a skilfully structured navigation through a fascinating collection of contemporary examples, each drawing out specific relevant lessons in a way which leaves the reader with both a comprehensive understanding of the issues and a entertaining insight into the industry."

Iain Edmondson, Non-Executive Director of the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race and Former Head of Major Events for London & Partners, UK

From the Publisher