Purpose This study aims to investigate the investment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the sports sector that could lead to overall economic growth of a developing country. The study aims to address the following core research questions: 1- What are the key factors influencing investor confidence in the sports sector? 2- How prepared is the sports sector to attract local and foreign investment in Oman? 3- What are the most promising entrepreneurships and investment opportunities in the Omani sports sector? Design/methodology/approach A case study was conducted in the Sultanate of Oman and the data were collected using a survey questionnaire applying random sampling technique. Total 225 samples were used in the quantitative analysis. Findings The analysis revealed that while the sports sector in Oman has investment prospects, its shortcomings include a lack of clear objectives, institutional planning, supportive rules and government backing. Furthermore, to overcome the current challenges, this study recommends structured investment planning and goal settings, improving regulatory frameworks, increasing government support through policy or funding initiatives, and encouraging investor trust through openness and incentives. Originality/value We confirm that this is an original work and has not been published previously, nor is it under consideration for publication elsewhere. All sources and references used have been appropriately acknowledged. This research holds significant value for sports and economic policy designers, particularly in the context of developing nations. It opens new dimensions, leveraging the sports-tourism nexus as a strategic tool for economic diversification.
Al-Busafi et al. (Wed,) studied this question.