Title: Sport-specific factors affecting location decisions in business to business sport manufacturing companies: a qualitative study in the Alps

Authors: Elisabeth Happ; Martin Schnitzer; Mike Peters

Addresses: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Fuerstenweg 185, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria ' Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Fuerstenweg 185, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria ' Department of Strategic Management, Marketing and Tourism, School of Management, University of Innsbruck, Karl-Rahner-Platz 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Abstract: International business research has focused on location decision criteria a lot. In contrast to existing studies, this qualitative study examined business to business sport manufacturing companies. The focus was on sport-specific factors influencing the decision-making processes of sport manufacturing companies located in the German-speaking Alps. The results showed that sport-specific factors, such as corporate sport culture, the work ethic in terms of sport, and the location's destination image regarding sport, play key roles in the location decision-making process. Additionally, the spirit of sport is a fixed component of sport businesses' corporate culture. The findings contribute to the sport management literature by adding sport-specific factors influencing location decision-making in the sport industry and suggest a new framework for these factors. Managers and governments could utilise the findings to support their settlement decisions and as advice for benchmarking initiatives.

Keywords: location decisions; sport industry; sporting goods industry; location criteria; uniqueness of sport; sport specific factors; qualitative study.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2021.114170

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2021 Vol.21 No.1/2, pp.21 - 48

Accepted: 20 Oct 2020
Published online: 12 Apr 2021 *

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