Sport entrepreneurship: the role of innovation and creativity in sport management

Abstract This article examines the state of research on sport entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity in sport management. Sport is an increasingly important sector of the global economy, yet little attention has been given to the role of entrepreneurship in its development. This article argues that entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity are crucial drivers of change, innovation, and employment in sport and that sport entrepreneurship is an emerging but unorganized stream of business research. To better understand the relationship between these research fields, we performed a study that combined a systematic review and a bibliometric analysis. This article presents thematic shifts in the field of sport entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity. It proposes an integrated model of sport entrepreneurship, offering novel perspectives that contribute to the field. Furthermore, the article addresses the lack of research on creativity, sustainability, and the sport entrepreneur, charting underexplored territories. Overall, this article provides a comprehensive overview of current research on sport entrepreneurship and identifies key areas for future investigation.