Editor's note:?The sports events industry is booming in China. Li Hai, dean of the School of Economics and Management at Shanghai University of Sport, spoke to Economic Daily about the growth of the industry, and what needs to be done to address the challenges it faces. Below are excerpts of the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

Data from the Chinese Professional Football League show that its three-tiered leagues attracted a total attendance of 8.96 million in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 18 percent. Attendance at the Chinese Super League matches was more than 6 million, a 32.54 percent year-on-year increase.

The Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2026, which was held in Shanghai, attracted more than 230,000 spectators, with ticket revenue increasing by over 30 percent year-on-year. Grassroots sports events, such as the Jiangsu Football City League, or "Suchao", have also gained widespread popularity, driving marked growth in consumption in local tourism, catering and accommodation sectors.

The booming consumption of sports events in China is a result of the synergy of multiple factors. The government is striving to build the sports industry into a pillar of the economy. According to a 2025 guideline on unleashing the potential of sports consumption and further promoting high-quality development of the sports industry, China aims to nurture a number of globally influential sports companies and events and increase the value of the industry to over 7 trillion yuan ($1.03 trillion) by 2030.

The attitude of people toward sports events has also changed. Watching and participating in sports have become popular leisure activities. The number of international and domestic sports events hosted by China has also increased. In 2025, Shanghai hosted 182 sports events, 69 of which were international games. The use of digital technology has made these events more accessible to the public.

Unleashing the potential of the development of sports events in China still faces challenges. There is a need for better integration of sports with culture, tourism and commerce. Event approval procedures are complicated, and not many domestic sports events are truly influential and sustainable.

To achieve the 2030 goals, strengthen the sports industry and advance the high-quality development of sports events industry, several measures are needed. A multi-department collaborative mechanism led by the sports authorities should be set up to offer better services, strengthen the supervision of sports events and promote the upgrade of relevant consumption. The government needs to continue supporting the sustained growth of top-tier international events, fostering domestic events and building a system that covers multiple types and levels of sports.

Greater efforts are also needed to cultivate event management talent, improve the standards and rules for event operation, and enhance the ability of referees. Also, sports events should be combined with other sectors to boost their business. Local authorities should be encouraged to leverage their cultural resources and create special sports events, operate the events in a "whole-process" manner, and make them cultural symbols that drive the local economy.