Table 2 The four themes, 12 categories, and general descriptions of barriers to the use of sports facilities

Policy-related restrictions (all interviewees mentioned)

Policies and regulations

Legal protection and legal appeal channels faced by business entities in the operation process, such as legal obligations and legal protection of rights and interests in facing disputes, the continuity and sustainability of the released policies.

Administrative pressure

Mainly involves interference from administrative aspects, such as the choice of venue design, appearance and functions, mandatory return of business during the contract period, both free and low-cost opening and economic benefits.

Institutional mechanisms

The systems and mechanisms that affect the functioning of the stadium, such as whether the construction of the stadium takes into account the local economic development conditions, the positioning of the stadium, whether the preliminary design fully considers the subsequent use functions, whether the management and operation team participates in the design, talent incentive mechanisms, and smart stadium construction.

Management-related factors (14 interviewees mentioned)

Ideas

Whether the management team has a clear, long-term, and sustainable plan; whether there is a standardized procedure, relying on the leadership’s personal courage or a mature operation idea.

Professional team

The industry’s ability to attract talents, the specialization of the team vs. recruit of a professional team, how is the team’s ability?

Practical ways

Ways to achieve the target function, such as intelligent operation, reasonable separation of powers, and selection of appropriate management methods.

Service-related factors (9 interviewees mentioned)

Content development

The service content provided by the venue, such as realistic project settings, creation and introduction of events, youth training, public service projects, some other special projects.

Schedule setting

Ways to improve service efficiency, such as optimizing the time arrangement of venues, making full use of venue space, upgrading and improving service capabilities.

Spirit building

Improve the spiritual connotation of sports to increase the stickiness of the masses to the venue, such as shaping the spirit of sports, immersing public in the feeling of sports activities, creating the venue’s brand.

Supervision factors (13 interviewees mentioned)

Assessment and Supervision

Supervision of venues by superiors, the rationality of assessment content and methods, and the rationality of assessment and evaluation systems.

Crisis management

The ability to handle crisis events and the impact on the reputation of the venue, such as ticket scalpers, consumer complaints, ability to meet epidemics or public emergencies.

Public evaluation

People’s satisfaction evaluation of stadiums, overall impression, gap between ideal state and reality.