Points of Leverage: Maximizing Host Community Benefit from a Regional Surfing Festival

Abstract

Abstract This research investigates the potential for sport event leverage in the context of a relatively small surfing festival in regional Australia. Chalip's (2004 Chalip, L. 2004. “Beyond impact: a general model for host community event leverage”. In Sport tourism: Interrelationships, impacts and issues, Edited by: Ritchie, B. W. and Adair, D. Clevedon: Channel View. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) model for sport event leverage underpinned the study. Event leveraging is a recent phenomenon, with empirical research sparse and limited to mega and hallmark events in large cities. This study develops our understanding of event leverage in a smaller, more regional context. Data came from participant observation, interviews with key stakeholders and documentary evidence. The study reveals the centrality of sport subculture to both immediate and longer-term event leverage. By demonstrating the potential for leverage from a small event in a regional centre, the findings lend empirical weight to Chalip's (2004 Chalip, L. 2004. “Beyond impact: a general model for host community event leverage”. In Sport tourism: Interrelationships, impacts and issues, Edited by: Ritchie, B. W. and Adair, D. Clevedon: Channel View. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) theoretical model and suggest the model may be more generally applicable than previously thought. Implications for triple bottom line leverage and sustainability in the sport event context are also drawn.