SPO1059: INTRODUCTION TO THE SPORT INDUSTRY

THE PUBLIC SECTOR OF SPORT

Dr Stacie Gray (stacie.gray@northampton.ac.uk)
LEARNING
OUTCOMES

TO INTRODUCE PUBLIC SECTOR

SPORT ORGANISATIONS AND
THEIR ROLE IN THE PROVISION
OF SPORT

TO CONSIDER ARGUMENTS FOR

AND AGAINST PRO STADIUM
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
DELIVERY OF SPORT: THREE MAIN SECTORS

• Play different roles in providing local sporting

opportunities and facilities.

• Are characterised by different objectives, principles

and governance methods (Hoye et al, 2018).

• However, they do not operate in isolation; they

overlap and contribute to a ‘mixed economy of
sport’.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR: THE GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS
WHAT DOES THE
GOVERNMENT
PROVIDE AND
MANAGE IN RELATION
TO SPORT?
 sport facilities (for the public and elite athletes).
Construct • e.g. sport centers, swimming pools, community halls, parks.
The Public Sector:
The Government’s Provide elite and participatory sport funding.

Role in Sport
funding for the operation of sporting associations and
Provide
(Hoye et al, 2018) clubs.

This reference provides a

starting point for academic
underpinning! Deliver sport programmes directly to the community.

AS1: Important slide that provides a

starting point for the public sector’s Control the regulations of sport.
role. You are required to describe the
public sector’s contribution using
specific examples from your chosen
sport. Correct market failure.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR (THE GOVERNMENT)

In 2018, the EU's 27 Member States

spent €50.7 billion of
government expenditure on recreation
and sport.
WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT INVEST IN GRASSROOTS AND ELITE SPORT?
Funding Elite Sport: Drive Participation & Increasing Health
Grix and Carmichael (2012; 76)

• Increase participation & population

health
• Community cohesion
? • Promoting a ‘feel-good factor’
• International ‘image’ abroad /
international prestige
• Elite athletes create role models
THE PUBLIC SECTOR OF SPORT

 Local councils, public leisure centres, and

THE PUBLIC
public schools (funded by national or local

SECTOR IN
government and membership fees).

SPORT
 Specialist government agencies (funded by the

government and / or lottery funding) that develop

sport policy and provide funding.
PUBLIC LEISURE FACILITIES
(BERGSGARD ET AL, 2019)
 For this week’s pre
learning task, think
about a public, city
council leisure facility
that you are used (e.g
a city council gym,
swimming pool, sport
hall). Reflect on the
quality of the facility.
Bring your answers to
the class.
Hutchinson et al (2018)
Tangible and intangible benefits. However, a contentious topic of a debate!
PRO SPORT STADIUM
CONSTRUCTION
…..
WHO SHOULD PAY?
Scan for full article
 PRO SPORT STADIUM
CONSTRUCTION

…..

WHO SHOULD PAY?

YOUR DEBATE, THOUGHTS

AND ARGUMENTS
 COMPARISON OF THE
THREE SECTORS
(Bill 2009: 55; Lussier
and Kimball 2019: 20)

Many IFs / NGO / charities

Staffing Employees are Employees are rely on predominantly
primarily paid primarily paid volunteers or a combination of
volunteers and paid staff
CONCLUSION

 The public sector fulfills various roles within the context of

grass roots and elite sport.

 Today, we introduced the different levels of government and

investigated government funding for community leisure centres

and professional sport stadiums.

 Next session we investigate specialized government agencies in

sport.
If you think of any questions after the
session, post to Padlet!
for listening and participating.
 TODAY’S REFERENCES – USEFUL AS1 SOURCES
 Hoye, R., Smith, A.C., Nicholson, M. and Stewart, B., 2018. Sport management: principles and applications.

Routledge.

 Hutchinson, M., Berg, B.K. and Kellison, T.B., 2018. Political activity in escalation of commitment: Sport facility

funding and government decision making in the United States. Sport Management Review, 21(3), pp.263-278.

 Wilson, R. and Piekarz, M., 2015. Sport management: the basics. Routledge.