Events
Events
The risky business of event management
In June this year, I gave a keynote speech at the European Academy of Management’s (EURAM) Sport Management Special Interest Group in Valencia. My presentation was entitled: ‘Issues in event management the challenges ahead’, and contained observations in ten areas.
In the first of two posts based on my presentation (five of the ten areas are given in each post), here is the written content of my presentation:
Before beginning, it is worthwhile considering what an event is. According to Van der Wagen (2010), events are characterised as being:
-Lifetime experiences for consumers and participants
-Expensive to stage
-Time constrained over short period
-Long and careful planning
-Generally take place only once (annually)
-High levels of risk
-Multiple stakeholders who have often made a significant investment in the event
BIDDING PROCESS
Examples
-Public vote on whether to stage 2022 Winter Olympics in Munich
-Public vote on whether to stage 2022 Winter Olympics in Oslo
Some issues to consider
-Governance
-Crowdsourcing
-Branding and sponsorship
Possible research opportunities
-What is the most appropriate governance model for the bidding process?
-What role should crowds play in bidding?
-How should commercial organisations contribute to and be involved in bidding?
STRATEGY AND STRATEGIC INTENT
Examples
-Singapore and its Sports Hub
-Azerbaijan and its bidding to stage the 2020 Olympic Games
Some issues to consider
-Creation of proposition and branding
-Nation building
-Geo-political context
Possible research opportunities
-What is a country selling when bidding/staging?
-Can sport events build infrastructure/competence?
-What network power & influence do events confer?
IMPACT, LEGACY AND SUCCESS
Examples
-2012 Olympic Games, London
-2014 Winter Olympics, Sochi
Some issues to consider
-Financial-v-economic-v-social-v-cultural-v-political
-Legacy, sustainability, delivering on strategic goals
-Net economic gain, financial return, other measures
Possible research opportunities
-Can reliable impact measures be established?
-What is legacy and how is it established?
-What constitutes event success?
RISK MANAGEMENT
Examples
-Threats posed by PCC in run-up to World Cup in Brazil 2014
-Issues posed by GLR protests around Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 2014
Some issues to consider
-Tangible, physical threats
-Economic and financial security
-Cyber-attacks
Possible research opportunities
-Degree of risk and how should it be managed?
-How do risks undermine economic value of sport?
-Nature and implications of cyber-attacks?
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Examples
-2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil
-2012 Olympic Games, London
Some issues to consider
-Delivering venues on time and on cost
-Post-event utilisation of venues
-Project management as strategic competence
Possible research opportunities
-Most effective form of project management?
-How to create strategies for venue utilisation?
-How to establish a global competitive advantage?
IVan der Wagen, L. (2010), Events Management: For tourism, cultural, business and sporting events, Financial Times Prentice Hall.
About Professor Simon Chadwick
Professor Simon Chadwick set-up and edits The Scorecard. He is Director of CIBS (Centre for the International Business of Sport) at Coventry University, where he works as Professor of Sport Business Strategy and Marketing. Simon tweets via Prof_Chadwick