Analysis of the Relationships between Residents’ Perceived Social Impacts of a Publicly Subsidized Multipurpose Facility and Behavioral Intentions

Despite challenging economic conditions, municipalities have justified the utilization of public subsidies to build or renovate multipurpose sports facilities due to the lack of modern features and the aging of existing facilities. To secure public support for the utilization of public subsidies, promises are often made about the transformative potential of events and teams for the community. The current study aims to examine the relationship between residents’ perceived social impact and their behavioral intentions regarding a newly developed multipurpose sports facility. The survey instrument was administered to assess residents perceived social impacts related to the multipurpose sports facility as well as their behavioral attributes. The findings revealed that perceived social impacts such as community development and economic benefits significantly influenced the attendance of future sports and entertainment events as well as word-of-mouth on sports and entertainment events. Respondents’ level of involvement and attendance in sports and entertainment events were significant predictors of positive behavioral intentions and word-of-mouth. Lastly, certain demographic variables indicated significant relationships with behavioral attributes. This study highlights the importance of understanding residents’ perceived social impact concerning their behavioral attributes. The findings can be used by policymakers and administrators to plan and execute the facility development using public subsidies, aiming to reduce social conflicts and enhance social cohesion among residents.