Social Return on Investment (SROI) of a Japanese Professional Soccer Team’s Social Business Activities

Responding to the lack of evidence for visualizing the monetary value of professional sport teams’ socioeconomic and environmental impact, this study aimed to calculate the socio-economic and environmental impact of a Japanese professional soccer team’s social business activity (i.e., lawn production business) using a Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework. We conducted nine interview investigations with each stakeholder related to this activity and the results showed that the socio-economic value of the targeted activity was JPY 33,422,183, while the inputs were JPY 29,449,784, suggesting an SROI ratio of 1.13. Therefore, for every JPY 100 invested in a lawn production business, socio-economic and environmental benefit worth JPY 113 was generated. This study contributes to advancing impact research in sport by shedding light on the monetary value of the socio-economic and environmental impacts of professional sport teams’ activities. Additionally, this framework provides practical implications for team managers looking to utilize activities as a management strategy through cost-effective investment and resource optimization.