ABSTRACT
Many scholars and observers have examined large-scale events-also known as major events and “mega events”—and their impacts on the host cities or regions, such as the 500 Festival in Indianapolis and the Sundance Film Festival in in Utah (Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and the Sundance Mountain Resort). Traditionally, studies have focused on the economic impacts of events, which include direct spending, indirect spending, and even export substitution. More recently, there has been some attention paid to the non-economic or social impacts of events, which include enhancement of city image, local pride, social capital, and social causes. Two earlier chapters in this book, in fact, present discussions and strategies for assessing the economic impacts and social impacts of special events. In this chapter, however, we take these theoretical concepts and empirical findings, and apply them to smaller-scale, community-based events. Specifically, we address community events and their potential to activate development or redevelopment in the host neighborhoods or communities.
