Abstract

This chapter outlines the contribution which a geographical approach to events can make to the critical evaluation of the effects of events. One of the underlying criticisms of Event Studies is the absence of any theoretical framework within which to assess the subject’s contribution to knowledge. A performance paradox exists where many events are large projects which have substantial long-term impacts on their communities and economies. Yet such projects often have poor performance records in terms of their place-specific contributions to communities’ well-being, lifestyles and long-term employment prospects. The chapter outlines the theoretical frameworks which geographers adapt to analyse such performance paradoxes, drawing upon the synergies between tourism and event studies. The chapter considers the long-standing contribution which geographers have made to Event Studies and the different methodologies and perspectives offered through the lens of the geographer and their spatial approach to event phenomena.