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The hosting of sport and entertainment events remains a key strategy for many civic leaders pursuing tourism and economic development in their respective cities (Chalip, 2017). Previous academic research has focused on the bid process for event hosting (Hiller, 2000; Sant and Mason, 2015), the economic and intangible benefits of hosting teams and events (Solberg and Preuss, 2007), the process through which infrastructure to host such events is developed (Siegfried and Zimbalist, 2000), the impacts of hosting on city image and destination brand (Kaplanidou and Vogt, 2007; Xing and Chalip, 2006), and the political process through which certain events are sought over others (Misener and Mason, 2008). Previous work has largely examined cities which host “major league” teams and seek large-scale sporting events that are vied for by cities throughout the world (Carey and Mason, 2014), although arguments have been made for more research on strategies and processes in smaller cities and regions (Soebbing et al., 2016).
In part due to concerns regarding the return on the public’s investment, and an interest in identifying ways for local businesses to maximize the benefits of sport events and infrastructure, a burgeoning literature has focused on the impacts that events and infrastructure have (not) engendered in cities. Some of this work has examined how local stakeholders have attempted to leverage the hosting of events and teams to maximize civic benefits. As explained by Chalip (2017, p. 406) leveraging an event requires integration with the destination’s broader product and service mix in order to add value to the city or region. With each event, knowledge is gained that increases the likelihood of future success. While most of the scholarly research on leveraging has examined larger cities, events, and facilities (Chalip and Green, 2001; Chalip, 2004; O’Brien, 2006), smaller communities have also been faced with decisions to build infrastructure to host sport events, develop event portfolios, and the need to maximize local benefits (Gibson et al., 2003; O’Brien, 2007; Ziakas and Costa, 2011; Taks et al., 2015). However, much of the work on smaller cities has focused specifically on issues of economic development, and not on leveraging per se (see Agha, 2013; Baade and Sanderson, 1997; Colclough et al., 1994; Rosentraub and Swindell, 1991). In addition,...