Residents’ Perceptions towards the Social Impacts of the Indianapolis 500 Miles Race: A Hallmark Event

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the major social benefits and costs associated with hosting the Indianapolis 500 in Indianapolis, Indiana. How residents’ perceptions toward this sport event are formed, as well as how the perceived social impacts affected their support towards the future hosting of this event using the social exchange theory as a theoretical framework. The paper employed qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews with 12 residents of Indianapolis, Indiana. The result of the qualitative study revealed that the sense of community, enhancing city image and the sense of pride are among the positive social impacts as perceived by the residents.