Budget Constraints as Link between Sports Economics and E-Sports? An Analysis of the Development of Hamburg’s Total Attendance at Professional Sports and Potential Lessons Learned for E-Sports

The aim of this research is to initiate a knowledge transfer from sports economics to upcoming e-sports research. Sports economics has shown, especially for the USA, that there is an overall budget constraint for leisure time activities and thus for spending not only on sports events. Therefore, an increase in stadium capacities will possibly lead to a shift from other activities, i. e. cinemas and restaurant, but not to an increase in overall spending and employment. This research tries to show this shift effect for the attendance volume at professional sports’ events in Hamburg. Hamburg is an interesting case because within the reviewed decade three professional teams have vanished, two new were established and football stadium capacities were increased. The results show that especially the increase of St. Pauli’s stadium capacities but as well the establishing of the basketball team Towers probably had a significant (in) direct influence on attendance at HSV Handball crowd. Furthermore, after the first teams of HSV Handball and Hamburg Freezers Ice Hockey were withdrawn from professional sports competition a massive increase in attendance to their amateur alternatives occurred. The effects on HSV football and the American football team “Huskies” would need further research. The results indicate that upcoming e-sports will have an effect on the established leisure activities, probably including traditional professional sports. Thus, further research is required to analyse the effect of upcoming e-sports upon traditional sports, but as well cinemas, restaurants and concerts, before considering subsidies for e-sports.