Smart and Sustainable Management in Multi-Purpose Sports Facilities: Comparative Analysis of Turkish and European Examples in Terms of Occupational Health and Safety and Event Management

Abstract

This study aims to comparatively examine public multi-purpose sports facilities in terms of sustainability, digitalization, occupational health and safety (OHS), and event management, and to propose an integrated model for Türkiye. The research adopts a qualitative approach based on comparative multiple case study and document analysis. In this context, Sinan Erdem Sports Hall and Ülker Sports and Event Hall from Türkiye, and Johan Cruijff Arena and Uber Arena from Europe were selected as case studies. Data were collected from institutional reports, sustainability documents, official publications, and recent academic sources. The analysis was conducted across six dimensions: multi-purpose usage, sustainability, digitalization, urban integration, institutional transparency, and OHS. Findings reveal that Turkish cases demonstrate strong multi-purpose usage and event capacity; however, sustainability, digitalization, and OHS practices remain relatively limited and fragmented. In contrast, European cases show that these dimensions are systematically integrated into event management processes and supported by measurable and transparent practices. In particular, OHS is reinforced through risk management, emergency planning, and digital monitoring systems. The results indicate that contemporary sports facilities should be evaluated not only in terms of physical capacity but also through sustainability, smart management, and safety dimensions. Accordingly, the study proposes a “Smart-Sustainable Multi-Purpose Sports Facility Model.”