| The purpose of this study was to identify factors contributing to mega-event city selection. Mega-event city selection processes have been very important in potential host communities, nations and organizing committees. Nonetheless, national selection committees have not clearly publicized how specific host cities are chosen. The present study proposes outlines a framework for the selection of host cities by a national selection committee. The framework describes a screening process that includes a quantitative assessment of potential host cities, input from communities seeking to host a mega-event within a nation, and the impact of political influence on the selection process.; The quantitative assessment phase of the screening process is tested using the 1994 World Cup as a case study. The assessment was conducted in two parts. First, variables identified as key criterion for assessing the potential of a city as a host site for a mega-event based on central place theory were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. The results of the secondary data analysis found that central places with adequate stadium capacities had smaller household sizes, a younger population, a higher female ratio and a greater total population than central places with inadequate stadium capacities. Second, the selection of host cities based on the proposed quantitative analysis was compared with the host cities actually selected for the 1994 World Cup. No significant differences were found between the theoretical city selection and the actual host city selection in 1994.; Seven of the nine actual cities were chosen based on the quantitative assessment of the identified criterion. The results of the study provide initial support for the first stage of the proposed framework for mega-event host city selection. |
