Digital Transformation in the Sports Industry and Football Fans’ Mental Health: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

The rapid digital transformation of the sports industry in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030 has reshaped how football fans engage with sporting events through modern infrastructure, international competitions, and expanding digital media ecosystems. While sport participation and spectatorship have been associated with positive well-being outcomes, limited empirical evidence exists regarding how digitally enabled sports investments relate to football fans’ mental health. This study examines the associations between three dimensions of perceived sports industry investment, hosting international football events (HIFE), football infrastructure investment (FII), and digital platforms and broadcasting investment (DP&BI), and self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among 550 Saudi football fans. Data was analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that HIFE was significantly associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. FII was significantly associated with lower depression and anxiety, but not with stress. DP&BI was significantly associated with lower depression and anxiety, while its association with stress was non-significant. The results highlight the role of emerging digital sports ecosystems in supporting psychological well-being and demonstrate that different forms of sports investment contribute unequally to mental health outcomes. This study contributes to the literature on digital transformation in sport by illustrating how investments in digital platforms, broadcasting technologies, and digitally enhanced fan experiences are associated with mental health outcomes among football supporters. Practical implications are provided for policymakers and sport organisations seeking to leverage digital and physical sports investments to promote societal well-being within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030.