The hidden effects of bidding for sporting events
- 27.09.2025
- Research
Mega sporting events can leave lasting impacts on host cities – even when the bid is unsuccessful.
What happens when a city bids to host a major sports event – but doesn’t win? Or when the event is granted, but the effects remain unclear years later? A newly published research article co-authored by Asc. Prof. (FH) Mark Romanelli from the FH Kufstein Tirol sheds light on exactly these questions.
While much attention is given to the fanfare of winning bids and the spectacle of hosting, far less is known about what remains long after the spotlight fades – or never even arrives. A recent international research project explores these overlooked legacies and reveals how even the bidding process itself can leave a lasting impact on cities.
The article, titled Bidding beyond the game: the legacies of (un)successful sports event bids on host locations, was published in the renowned International Journal of Event and Festival Management. The publication is the result of a collaborative effort between four researchers from three institutions: the University of Innsbruck (Austria), North Carolina State University (USA), and FH Kufstein Tirol.
That tells us that the value of bidding goes far beyond the game itself.
Asc. Prof. (FH) Mark Romanelli, MBA
Associate Professor (University of Applied Sciences) for Strategic Management
From a student project to academic insight
“This project actually started as a bachelor thesis,” says Mark Romanelli. Working with the sports team at the University of Innsbruck, the researchers expanded the initial work into a broader academic study. Alongside Romanelli, the author team includes Nicole Gamper and Martin Schnitzer (both from the Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck), and Jason Bocarro from North Carolina State University.
While most research in the field focuses on events that actually take place, this study goes one step further: it investigates what kind of legacies remain from the bidding process itself – regardless of whether the city was ultimately selected as host.
Legacies without a winner's medal
The authors conducted in-depth interviews with representatives from five cities that had bid for large-scale sports events. These included both successful and unsuccessful bids. Surprisingly, the study found that simply going through the application process can trigger positive long-term changes – ranging from improvements in infrastructure and governance to increased stakeholder collaboration and strategic planning capabilities.
“The cities we spoke to experienced real, lasting developments – sometimes even without hosting the event at all,” Romanelli explains. “That tells us that the value of bidding goes far beyond the game itself.”
This is another example of how student work can evolve into real academic impact.
Asc. Prof. (FH) Mark Romanelli, MBA
Associate Professor (University of Applied Sciences) for Strategic Management
Academic collaboration across continents
The paper also exemplifies international and interdisciplinary collaboration. With researchers based in Austria and the United States, the project bridges perspectives from sport science, event management, and tourism studies. “It was a great experience to work across institutions,” says Romanelli. “Collaborative research like this helps broaden our thinking and brings richer results.”
Practical implications for cities and students
Beyond its theoretical contribution, the study holds valuable insights for city planners, event organizers, and policymakers. It encourages host locations to view bidding not only as a means to an end, but as a chance to drive development regardless of the outcome.
And for Romanelli, there’s also a teaching takeaway: “This is another example of how student work can evolve into real academic impact. It’s encouraging to see that with the right support and curiosity, even undergraduate projects can lead to published research.”
FH Kufstein Tirol congratulates Mark Romanelli and his co-authors Nicole Gamper, Jason Bocarro, and Martin Schnitzer on this achievement – and on demonstrating how bidding for sports events can leave a legacy far beyond the scoreboard.
Links:
- Bidding beyond the game | Articel