SOCCER-SPECIFIC STADIUM RESEARCH

Dr. Edward P. Sakiewicz, of San Antonio, Texas recently conducted research called "A comparative study of enterprise risk management and decision making criteria used in developing soccer-specific stadiums for Major League Soccer". The study was completed in 2006 for Capella University, Minneapolis, MN as part of Sakiewcz's doctoral thesis.

Abstract (Summary)

This study was designed to examine Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) strategies and decision making criteria associated with developing "Ideal-Type" Soccer Specific Stadiums (SSS) in Major League Soccer (MLS). The study addressed and measured key decision making success criteria associated with the development of SSS in MLS. A preexisting 1995 Temple University study by Dr. Wayne Rasmussen, was emulated and the modification of the Delphi survey instrumentation model and methodology was used for this study. Three customized survey questionnaires were developed for measuring homogeneity (agreement) in the panelists' most important and least important decision criteria rankings. The research objective was to determine both homogeneity and heterogeneity (differences) of the responses by the various groups related to three survey questions. This study first identified and subsequently defined what MLS officials consent are the top three "Ideal-Type" SSS stadium developments and which are the least significant among the eight choices they had to rank. Secondly, the study identified those criteria ranked as most and least important elements regarding the Net Economic and Fiscal Impacts and what were the top five most important decision criteria. The third decision criteria researched, determined who the Key Stakeholders were in planning these ventures and what were the top 10 most important stakeholders as decision criteria for managing such ventures. Also compared and contrasted were the least important elements along all three survey questions and their related decision criteria. The views expressed in this dissertation are those of the author and do not reflect any official policy, position, or specific conclusions of Major League Soccer or the participants chosen who mutually agreed to be involved in this study.