THE EFFECT OF HOSTING PRESTIGIOUS SPORTING EVENTS ON RESIDENTS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES: THE CASE OF RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

This study examines how hosting prestigious international sport events influences residents’ psychological outcomes and behavioral responses in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Drawing on Trust Transfer Theory, the research investigates whether trust in prestigious events is transferred to positive perceptions of city brand reputation, civic pride, place attachment, quality of life, and support for future events. A cross-sectional survey of 305 Riyadh residents was conducted, and data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation modeling (SEM), and ANOVA. Results show that event prestige significantly enhanced city brand reputation, which in turn increased civic pride and place attachment. Place attachment had a positive influence on perceived quality of life, revisit intention, and support for future event hosting, supporting the hypothesized model. While overall gender and generational cohort effects were not significant, differences emerged among female generational groups: younger women showed higher support for future events and greater intention to revisit compared to older cohorts. These findings highlight the importance of considering gendered generational dynamics when planning event legacies. The study offers theoretical contributions by expanding Trust Transfer Theory in a sport event context and practical insights for Vision 2030 planners on leveraging event prestige to improve resident well-being and city branding.