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Regeneration, communities and contemporary issues in sport and leisure

Sportand leisure-led regeneration is shaping communities in new ways, and ongoing economic challenges and consequences are having a direct impact on society in community locales around the world (Wise & Harris, 2017). New power relations, growth policies and who benefits are contemporary considerations as we live in a time of uncertainty, where challenges of austerity increasingly mean communities need to remain resilient (Doherty et al., 2020). The focus on regeneration and communities align with global priorities, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as we progress towards 2030. Some notable impacts concerning the direction of work in these areas speak to three of these goals: Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The subject of regeneration has been the focus of research for a number of sport and leisure management scholars over many years (e.g. Crompton, 2014; Davies, 2016; Gratton et al., 2005; Misener & Mason, 2006). New venue developments and enterprise initiatives aim to achieve lasting social and economic legacies in town and cities across the world. To residents, communities and businesses in places that have seen increased public and private investments in sports and leisure, a number of critical issues and challenges arise. New facilities and infrastructures purpose built for sporting events, along with expansive associated leisure developments, are often perceived as ways to increase a destinations exposure (Smith, 2012) and perceived service quality (Phonthanukitithaworn & Sellitto, 2018). Morrison and Misener (2020) point to issues that management and planning agendas do not always cater towards or foster to what is best for a local community and development needs, as opportunities for participation are oftentimes missed (see also, Misener et al., 2015). Spaces are transformed to accommodate the needs and demands of consumers and visitors, which have led to new enterprises based on altered leisure consumption patterns in and around regenerated areas (see Pye et al., 2016). While much work has assessed regeneration as a result of postindustrial decline (e.g. Gratton et al., 2005; Smith, 2012; Spirou, 2013), scholars are now also increasing emphasis on social, intangible and local entrepreneurial impacts (see Wise & Whittam, 2015). This special issue aims to analyse some of the deeper social issues impacting communities in a number of different places and asks “who is regeneration for?”. It is concerned with positioning, developing and furthering debates about how regeneration has resulted in new enterprise opportunities (e.g. Pappalepore & Duignan, 2016), contributes to a new sense of community (e.g. Davies, 2016), or helps reinforce imaging and imagining of nations (e.g. Harris, 2015). Bull and Whittam (2020) have recently suggested that a focus on sport, leisure and new enterprise opportunities is an area that needs more consideration. Alongside