Prioritizing social and economic effects of sport places on Urban Environment (A case study: Yazd City)

Sport facilities and sport places as one of important land uses in urban environment can have positive and negative effects on their surroundings، of which the most important can be addressed to economic and social ones. Thus، the purpose of this study was to identify، assess and prioritize the social and economic effects of sport places on the urban environment. Based on these objectives، five typical sport places (Shahid Sadoughi، Shahid Paak Nejad، Shahid Nassiri، 22nd Bahman، Kargaran sport complexes) were selected by special circumstances in Yazd city. The research goals were to recognize and determine the socioeconomic effects (impacts) of sport places on urban environment، which were obtained by searching and organizing relevant literature and valid scientific resources as well as discussing and exchanging views with outstanding professors and experts in urban planning and sport management. The research tool consisted of two questionnaires: 1) dual comparative questionnaire including 57 items in 2 sections in order to define input of AHP method، and 2) a questionnaire with Likert scale including 18 items in 2 sections in order to define inputs of SAW method and TOPSIS method. To gather data، the questionnaires were distributed among 162 individuals from the sample in Yazd city (53 persons from chairmen of sport federations، specialists from physical education office، and administrators from selected sport complexes، 14 persons from police officers، 12 persons from real estate agencies، 83 persons from residents in surroundings of selected sport complexes). Theoretical Bases: - Sport Places: Places constructed for various sports activities، including outdoor and indoor locations. - Economic and social effects (impacts) of sport places: Economic and social effects (impacts) which sports places exert on their surroundings in urban environment. Gathering the necessary data and prioritizing the determined effects (by three AHP، TOPSIS، and SAW methods) and analyzing data by one sample t-test، it was found that of the social effect items، the sport places increased the residents’ tendency to watch matches، tendency to do exercises، their happiness and freshness، and collective and sport cooperation among them، respectively. In general، and considering the social variables، although the obtained mean of views was higher than the average، this difference was not significant. In addition، other results from the study indicated that sport places did not influence all economic variables as well as none of their components. The results showed sport places do not have much influence on the improvement of economic components in their surroundings. At present، sport industry is considered as the most profitable one in the world، however، it is in the hands of the countries provided its requirements، regarded it as a profitable resource، and dealt with it based on scientific studies، while the lack of suitable facilities and economic goals will result in nothing but losses and damages. On the other hand، the results from the present study and most of current studies show that sport places and their increased per capita budget will result in social positive effects in different dimensions such as increased healthiness، freshness، and vitality. Suggestions: The followings are recommended based on the results from the study: Increasing advertising through media and etc. in order to inform people about the sport’s advantages، since it will result in more acceptance by people and more social positive effects by sport places. Paying more attention to land selection in urban environment including sport needs assessment. Cultivating and promoting sport among enthusiasts and spectators in different ways، resulting in the reduction of social disorders arising from a variety of sports events.