Despite extensive research on mega-events and resident perceptions, few studies examine how residents evaluate mega-events and post-event site redevelopment as a continuous process. This study investigates local residents’ expectations and anxieties regarding the 2025 Japan International Exposition and the planned integrated resort development on its former site. Surveys were conducted in the Expo host region among Expo visitors and non-visitors. Visitors reported higher expectations for the Expo and the integrated resort and greater residential area satisfaction than non-visitors. For both groups, overall expectations for Expo-related residential areas are strongly correlated with anticipated economic effects. Among visitors, expectations related to the integrated resort are strongly associated with enhanced entertainment opportunities, contributions to long-term urban planning, and tourism promotion. Among non-visitors, these expectations are more closely linked to perceived social benefits, including improved crime prevention and safety, community reinvestment, and cultural exchange. Core anxieties regarding integrated resort development for both groups focused on increased crime and declining public safety, higher social costs, and greater risks of gambling addiction. The policy implications underscore the need for communication strategies tailored to resident characteristics, robust harm-reduction measures and effective regulatory governance, and legacy planning that transparently connects event venues to surrounding cities for sustainable benefits.
Yamada et al. (Sat,) studied this question.