This is the first book to trace the intellectual contours of theory in sport management, and to explain, critique and celebrate the importance of sport management theory in academic research, teaching and learning, and in the development of professional practice. Covering the full span of contemporary issues, debates, themes and functional approaches, from corporate social responsibility and diversity to strategy, marketing and finance, each chapter explores a key theoretical approach, including an overview of that theory, a discussion of the process of theory development and of how the theory has been employed in research, practice or teaching, and outlines directions for future research.

Section 1: Overview 1. Developing Theory in Sport Management 2. Importance of Theory in Quantitative Inquiry 3. Importance of Theory in Qualitative Inquiry Section 2: Managerial Theories 4. Developing a Theory of Suffering and Academic Corruption in Sport Applying a Theory of Academic Suffering and Academic Corruption 5. Building Theoretical Foundations for Strategic CSR in Sport Applying Strategic CSR in Sport 6. Stakeholder Management in Sport Organizations Applying Stakeholder Management Theory 7. Mega-sport events Applying the Theory of Mega Sport Event Legacies 8. Sport Policy Implementation Applying a Neo-Institutional-Translational Theory of Policy Implementation 9. Theory of Sport Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success (SPLISS) Applying the Theory of SPLISS 10. Developing a Theory of Board Strategic Balance Applying a Theory of Board Strategic Balance 11. The Conception, Development, and Application of Sport-For-Development Theory Applying Sport for Development Theory 12. Leadership Applying the Multidimensional Model of Leadership 13. Organizational Justice Theory Development Applying Organizational Justice Theory 14. Managing Diversity Applying the Theory of Managing Diversity 15. Work-Life Interface in Sport Applying Work-Family Conflict Theory 16. Sport and Sense of Community Theory Applying Sport and Sense of Community Theory Section 3: Marketing Theories 17. Sponsorship-Linked Marketing Applying Sponsorship-Linked Marketing Theory 18. Team Identity Theory Applying Team Identity Theory 19. Sport Consumer Behavior Applying the Sport Consumer Behavior Model 20. Brand Equity in Sport: Conceptualization, Advancement, and Extensions Applying the Brand Equity in Sport Model 21. The Psychological Continuum Model: An Evolutionary Perspective Applying the Psychological Continuum Model 22. Sport Fan Socialization: Becoming Loyal to a Team Applying Sport Fan Motivation Theory 23. What Attracts Fans to a Venue? Applying Sportscape 24. The Sports Product Applying The Sports Product Framework Section 4: Sociocultural Theories 25. The Gendering of Leadership in Sport Organizations: Poststructural Perspectives Applying the Three Tiered Approach to Male Dominance and Sex Segregation in Coaching 26. Inclusive Masculinity Theory Applying Inclusive Masculinity Theory 27. This Way...This Explains My Reality: Critical Race Theory in Sport And Leisure Applying Critical Race Theory 28. Gatekeeping and Sport Communication Applying the Gatekeeper Influence in Sport Communication Model 29. The Continuum Theory: Challenging Traditional Conceptualization and Practices of Sport Applying Sport Continuum Theory Section 5: Economic Theories 30. Balanced Scorecard Approach to Evaluating Events Applying the Balanced Scorecard Approach to Evaluating Events 31. Towards a New Theory of Sport Anchored Development for Real Economic Change Applying Rosentraub's Economic Development Theories 32. Fort and Quirk: A Look Back and a Look Forward Applying Competitive Balance Theory Section 6: Conclusion 33. Themes and Directions for Theory in Sport Management