Does Distance Matter? Geographical Distance and Domestic Support for Mega Sports Events

Residential support is one key factor that increases the probability of a positive outcome of mega events. Especially, pre-event support seems important, since hosting the event often requires public consensus. Within the discussion of determinants of pre-event support, the distance between a resident's home (district) and the event area has been neglected so far. To explore the spatial nature of event support, representative survey data (n = 900) from the 2016 Olympic Games is analyzed using ordered probit and spatial regression models. Estimates reveal a lower probability of high support for residents living close to the main event area. Moreover, the rate of marginal changes in the probability of support decreases with decreasing distance to other areas.