Extending the integrated model of economic and social mechanisms for evaluating the net social value of non-mega events

Purpose This study extends the integrated model of economic and social mechanisms to assess the Net Social Value (NSV) of sport events, applying it to a non-mega event: the 2022 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship, hosted in The Netherlands.Design Analysing survey data from 2,076 households, the research examined the relationship between different engagement investments, subjective wellbeing, and personal net monthly household income with NSV for host and non-host residents.Findings Direct attendance at the event did not significantly influence NSV, whereas media engagement increased the value. Additionally, higher subjective wellbeing and income was associated with increased NSV in non-host areas.Practical implications The findings underscore the importance of media engagement for enhancing the social benefits of non-mega events. Focusing on media reach may be more effective than solely prioritizing direct attendance for maximizing perceived social value.Research contribution This paper extends and refines existing Social Exchange Theory models in sport-event research by showing that NSV arises not only from perceived societal benefits but also from individual resources and engagement investments.Originality/Value This study advances NSV measurement by incorporating negative valuations and revealing systematic differences in engagement investments and individual characteristics across host and non-host populations.