The Perceived Impacts of Non-mega-sporting Events Among Host Residents: A Pre–post Analysis of the Kobe Marathon

This study aimed to examine whether residents perceived impacts related to non-mega-sporting events (NMSE) varied in overall attitude and event support between preevent and postevent. In order to verify the impacts of NMSE, this study used the framework of triple bottom line, which was classified impacts as economic, sociocultural, and environmental. Data collection were conducted 1 month prior to the Kobe Marathon (October 1–16, 2014) and 1.5 months after the Kobe Marathon (January 8–27, 2015). Of the 1,080 municipal advisors asked to participate in the presurvey, 550 completed the questionnaire. Of the 1,059 municipal advisors that were also asked to participate in postsurvey, 466 returned the questionnaire. The results showed that positive sociocultural impact and economic impact are perceived to improve the overall attitude toward the Kobe Marathon and event support for the Kobe Marathon pre- and postsurvey. The results also indicated that positive overall attitude toward the Kobe Marathon improves residents' support for NMSE before and after this event. The results presented evidence that residents have a clear awareness of the event impacts on overall attitude toward the Kobe Marathon and possess greater support for the event after, rather than before.