Does Awareness Drive Support? Exploring Local Residents’ Perceptions of Sport Event Impacts

This study explores residents’ perceptions of a sporting event’s impacts and identifies which factors most influence their support for the event. It introduces residents’ awareness of the event as a variable affecting both their impact perceptions and support. Using social exchange theory and the CRO Race cycling event in Croatia as a case, the study analyzed data from 1,191 respondents through exploratory factor analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM), and bivariate statistical tests. The findings indicate a multidimensional structure of event impacts, with perceived benefits such as increased destination visibility, enhanced image, and knowledge and entertainment opportunities having the greatest influence on support. While bivariate tests revealed significant differences in perceived impacts and support between “aware” and “unaware” groups, multigroup analysis found no significant differences in how awareness influences the relationship between impacts and support. By examining event awareness as a key factor in residents’ perceptions, this study contributes to event management research and offers practical insights for event organizers and policymakers.