Moving the goalposts: the intersection of sport, tourism and hospitality

This paper develops a conceptual framework to examine how regional football clubs may be leveraged for their tourism and hospitality potential. Existing scholarship has largely concentrated on globally recognised clubs and mega-events, while limited attention has been given to the professional teams located in peripheral and economically disadvantaged regions that often function as community anchors. The framework integrates insights from actor network theory, stakeholder theory, social capital theory and the concept of leverage in order to explain how facilities, brands, stakeholder networks and communities can interact to shape tourism and hospitality outcomes. SC Cambuur and the regional context of the Dutch city of Leeuwarden (Friesland) are introduced as an illustrative case to demonstrate how these dynamics can be situated within a peripheral setting. The study contributes conceptually by extending the examination of sport tourism leverage into contexts where resources are constrained but where authenticity and embeddedness are central assets. It offers a heuristic device through which clubs and municipalities can consider facilities and brands as leverageable resources. The analysis is indicative rather than empirical and provides a platform for future comparative and longitudinal research into the role of regional football clubs in supporting wider development objectives.