After the Crowds: Redemption Frameworks for Overbuilt Olympic Sports Venues

Abstract

Many studies have documented the common problem of venue underutilization after mega events such as the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, which imposes a heavy financial burden on the host cities. This paper aims to provide practical and empirical suggestions for improving venue underutilization through research and analysis of dismantled and existing sports facilities. Under the sharing and circular economy frameworks, we comparatively analyze the venue sustainability of different mega sports venues through site selection, construction, and after-event operation phases. In the site selection phase, we suggest choosing a location near the city, cooperating with universities, and building on existing infrastructure. In the construction phase, we recommend refurbishing or reusing existing sports stadiums to optimize space utilization rates, enhancing the versatility of venues, and using reusable materials and renewable energy sources. Suggestions for after-event operations include sharing sports stadiums for multiple purposes and improving resource reallocation. Our paper improves the venue utilization of mega sporting events from circular and sharing perspectives.