Sport-specific factors affecting location decisions in business to business sport manufacturing companies: a qualitative study in the Alps. (5th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Happ, Elisabeth; Schnitzer, Martin; Peters, Mike
• Is Part Of: International journal of sport management and marketing. Volume 21:Number 1/2(2021)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2021-04-05
• Subjects: location decisions -- sport industry -- sporting goods industry -- location criteria -- uniqueness of sport -- sport specific factors -- qualitative study; Sports administration -- Periodicals; Sports -- Marketing -- Periodicals; 796.069
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-8962

Abstract

International business research has focused on location decision criteria a lot. In contrast to existing studies, this qualitative study examined business to business sport manufacturing companies. The focus was on sport-specific factors influencing the decision-making processes of sport manufacturing companies located in the German-speaking Alps. The results showed that sport-specific factors, such as corporate sport culture, the work ethic in terms of sport, and the location's destination image regarding sport, play key roles in the location decision-making process. Additionally, the spirit of sport is a fixed component of sport businesses' corporate culture. The findings contribute to the sport management literature by adding sport-specific factors influencing location decision-making in the sport industry and suggest a new framework for these factors. Managers and governments could utilise the findings to support their settlement decisions and as advice for benchmarking initiatives.