Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Sport Management, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Sport Management, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
With the expansion of digital technologies,esports has emerged as a prominent phenomenon in the fields of sport and entertainment.The development of this sector requires the identification of influencing factors within a structured and systematic framework.Accordingly,The purpose of the present study was to develop a model for the development of esports in Iran with an emphasis on the role of stakeholders.This study adopted a quantitative approach and was descriptive–survey in nature.In terms of purpose, it was an applied research.The statistical population consisted of various stakeholder groups active in the esports domain, including individuals with managerial and executive experience in the Ministry of Sport, esports federations and associations, researchers, media professionals, sponsors, and technology-based companies.A disproportionate quota sampling method was employed, and data were collected from 119 respondents using the standardized questionnaire developed by Ensan et al.(2026). To examine and validate the proposed esports development model with an emphasis on stakeholders, structural equation modeling based on the partial least squares approach was applied using PLS software.he results of the structural equation modeling indicated that all dimensions of the esports development model in Iran were statistically significant and valid.Specifically stakeholder development(β=0.92),economic development(β=0.88), educational development(β=0.88),effective management(β=0.80),cultural development and socialization(β=0.75),and infrastructure development(β=0.73), had significant effects on the development of esports.The findings indicate that the development of esports in Iran is a stakeholder-oriented and structural process that cannot be achieved without integrated policymaking and institutional coordination.Therefore, the proposed model can serve as a framework for designing national policies and programs aimed at the development of esports.
Keywords
- Digital infrastructure
- E-sports Development
- E-sports management
- Stakeholders.Structural Equation Modeling
Main Subjects
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