4. SPORTS & LEISURE BUSINESS ECONOMICS

Vera Pedragosa (coordinator); José Magano. Co-authors of publications and communications: Alan Ferreira, A. Silva, C. Silva, E. Cruz, G. Moreira, R. Freitas, H. Chapouto, I. Dias. Student participation: not indicated in the reports (to be confirmed by the co-authors’ study cycle). Visiting researchers hosted at CICEE: José Núñez (Málaga), Elena Hierro and Pablo Jiménez Jiménez (Valencia), Salvador Angosto (Seville).

Portugal Activo – Associação de Ginásios e Academias de Portugal (Barómetro do Fitness); Universidade de Sevilha (network DataActive, fuunded by Consejo Superior de Deportes; Salvador Angosto, Jesús García-Fernández, A. Lara-Bocanegra, M. R. Bohórquez); Universidade de Valência (Elena Hierro, Pablo Jiménez-Jiménez, Ferran Calabuig, A. Vidal-Vilaplana, C. Gregori-Faus, M. Alguacil-Jiménez); Universidade de Málaga (José M. Núñez Sánchez); Universidade Europeia (Silvio Addolorato, Luiz Haas, Efi Tsitskari); Celina Gonçalves; brazilian researchers (M. Curth, Í. Dantas, M. V. Acioli da Gama, C. A. Mulatinho de Queiroz Pedroso); APOGESD – Associação Portuguesa de Gestão do Desporto.

– Fitness Barometer in Portugal: data collection, processing and analysis for 2025 and publication of the 2025 edition, in partnership with Portugal Activo.
– DataActive Network – International Open Data Network for Active Urban Environments (1st phase, July–December 2025): network mapping, partner identification and development of collaborations (28 participants, 18 universities).

– Fitness management and consumer behavior: from app users to practitioners; service encounters in low-cost centers; social interaction, trust and loyalty; intrapreneurship in the sector; Generation Z’s sports footwear choices in Brazil and Portugal.

– Sustainability and green marketing in fitness: sustainability perceptions and behavioral intentions; green marketing strategies and purchasing behavior (Emerald chapter, EASM 2025 and WASM 2026 communications; four peer-reviewed articles).

– Transformational leadership and motivation in fitness centers; digital transformation and maturity in the sector; Trends in fitness management research in Portugal post-COVID-19.
– Hosting and co-supervising four visiting researchers (Málaga, Valencia, Seville).

Five articles in journals indexed in Scopus/Web of Science (one accepted, in press), three book chapters with international editions, one book with national edition, and two publications in conference proceedings; four articles under peer review; five communications presented.

Silva, A., Pedragosa, V., & Ferreira, A. (2026). From Fitness App Users to Sports Participants: A Study Among Fitness Club Customers. TRENDS in Sport Sciences. Aceite em 23/6/2026; no prelo.

Jiménez-Jiménez, P., Pedragosa, V., Vidal-Vilaplana, A., & Gregori-Faus, C. (2026). Service encounter in low-cost fitness centres: A comparative study according to sociodemographic variables. SPORT TK-EuroAmerican Journal of Sport Sciences, 15, 26. https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.708311

Curth, M., Dantas, Í., Pedragosa, V., & Ferreira, A. C. D. (2026). Between pragmatism and symbolism: The sports footwear choices of lower-middle-class Generation Z in Brazil and Portugal. International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSMS-08-2025-0402

Jiménez-Jiménez, P., Pedragosa, V., Alguacil-Jiménez, M., & Calabuig-Moreno, F. (2025). Analyzing the Value of Social Interaction for Fitness Center Management: The Influence of Service Encounter in Consumer Trust and Loyalty. Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research, 110. https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2025-0022

Lara-Bocanegra, A., Pedragosa, V., García-Fernández, J., & Bohórquez, M. R. (2025). Fit-intrapreneurship in the emerging economy of health and fitness industry. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 17(1), 98–117. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-03-2024-0115

Pedragosa, V., & Ferreira, A. (2026). Barómetro do Fitness em Portugal 2025. Portugal Activo – Associação de Ginásios e Academias de Portugal.

Pedragosa, V., Magano, J., Addolorato, S., & Gonçalves, C. (2025). A global perspective of sustainability in sports organizations. In Sustainability in the Portuguese Fitness Industry (pp. 43–65). Emerald Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83608-726-720251006

Pedragosa, V., Sobral, V., & Gonçalves, C. (2025). The Health and Fitness Consumer. In Marketing for the Health and Fitness Industry: Technology, Strategy and Value. Emerald Publishing.

Ferreira, A. C. D., & Pedragosa, V. (2025). Transformación digital y medición de la madurez digital en el sector del fitness. In Economía del deporte y gestión basada en la evidencia: La visión de los expertos II. Factoría Prisma.

Silva, C., & Pedragosa, V. (2025). Estilo de liderança transformacional e o impacto na motivação dos colaboradores em centros de fitness. Livro de Comunicações do XXVI Congresso Nacional de Gestão do Desporto – APOGESD, pp. 115–136.

Núñez Sánchez, J. M., Pedragosa, V., & Magano, J. (2026). Fitness Management Research in Portugal After COVID-19: Emerging Trends. Proceedings XVI Congreso Iberoamericano de Economía del Deporte, Osuna, Espanha.

Gonçalves, C., Pedragosa, V., Magano, J., & Addolorato, S. (2025). Sustainability perceptions on behavioural intentions in fitness centres facilities. 33rd EASM Conference, Budapeste, 2–5/9/2025.

Silva, C., & Pedragosa, V. (2025). Estilo de liderança transformacional e o impacto na motivação dos colaboradores em centros de fitness. XXVI Congresso Nacional de Gestão do Desporto – APOGESD, Vilamoura, 11–12/12/2025.

Pedragosa, V., Cruz, E., & Gonçalves, C. (2026). Green marketing strategies and their impact on consumer purchasing behaviour in fitness centres. 5th WASM Conference, Cidade do Cabo, 3–6/3/2026.

Núñez Sánchez, J. M., Pedragosa, V., & Magano, J. (2026). Fitness Management Research in Portugal After COVID-19: Emerging Trends. XVI Congreso Iberoamericano de Economía del Deporte, Osuna, 10–12/6/2026.

Acioli da Gama, M. V., Curth, M., Pedragosa, V., & Mulatinho de Queiroz Pedroso, C. A. (2026). Beyond Paces, Medals and Bananas: Brand Associations Driving Runners’ Behavioral Intentions. XVI Congreso

VI Conference on Sports Management — “The Future of the Sports Ecosystem: Innovation, Performance and Management”, Autonomous University of Lisbon, 23/4/2026 (organized with NEGD-UAL; moderation of the panel “Digitalization and fan engagement”).
There were no sessions of the CICEE Research Seminar Cycle in this area during the period.

Vera Pedragosa (coordinator); José Magano. Doctoral and postdoctoral researchers co-supervised at CICEE by Vera Pedragosa and José Magano: José Núñez (University of Málaga), Elena Hierro (University of Valencia) and Salvador Angosto (University of Seville). Co-authors: Celina Gonçalves, Silvio Addolorato, E. Cruz, G. Moreira, R. Freitas, H. Chapouto, I. Dias, A. M. García-Vallejo, R. Biscaia, P. Gálvez-Ruiz.

– Fitness Barometer in Portugal (2016–2027): collection, processing and analysis of 2026 data and preparation of the new edition, in partnership with Portugal Activo.
– DataActive Network – International Open Data Network for Active Urban Environments (University of Seville / Consejo Superior de Deportes): new phase of the network, strengthening of international partnerships and research and knowledge transfer activities.
– Sustainability and green marketing in fitness: completion of the review of the articles “Green Marketing Strategies and Consumer Behavioural Intentions in Fitness Centres” (Journal of Global Sport Management, minor revision), “Sustainability Perceptions and Membership Loyalty” and “Governing the Green Gym”; submission of ‘Not All Pillars Are Equal’ (mass running events) to the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship.

– Fitness management and consumer behavior: “Understanding Value Creation in Sport Services” (Hierro, Calabuig); Intention to use artificial intelligence by fitness professionals (Angosto, García-Fernández, Tsitskari); trends in fitness management research post-COVID-19 (Núñez); reformulation and new submission of “Understanding Boutique Fitness Customers”; gender stereotypes in figure skating (EASM 2026).
– Book publications: chapter “Sports Marketing and Brand Awareness” in the commemorative work for APOGESD’s 30th anniversary; technical-scientific book Fitness Center Management: Strategy, Operations, Marketing and Sustainability (in development).
Objectives: maintain the Barometer series, consolidate international networks, publish the works under review and reinforce the transfer of knowledge to the sector (APOGESD, municipalities, NEGD-UAL, Brazilian Olympic Committee).

Portugal Activo – Association of Gyms and Academies of Portugal (Barometer); University of Seville (DataActive network; Salvador Angosto Sánchez); University of Valencia (Elena Hierro, Pablo Jiménez Jiménez; project on sporting events and city branding, see line 5); University of Málaga (José Núñez); European University (Silvio Addolorato, Luiz Haas, Efi Tsitskari); APOGESD; Brazilian Olympic Committee; ISCAL; NEGD-UAL.

Sept. 2026: 34th EASM Conference, Thessaloniki (September 15–18, two papers accepted); ISCAL Sport Summit (September 22); start of the COP’s “New Leadership | For a More Equal Sport” program (September 24 – November 26); response to the JGSM minor review (until October 3).
Nov. 2026: XXVII National Congress on Sports Management – ​​APOGESD, Maia (organization and scientific coordination); launch of the APOGESD 30th anniversary book.
Sept. 2026 – June 2027: collection and analysis of 2026 Barometer data; new phase of the DataActive network; training actions for municipal councils (APOGESD); submissions and revisions of articles.
Apr./May 2027: VII Conference on Sports Management, with NEGD-UAL. Projected completion date: August 31, 2027 (Barometer and DataActive on hold).

Four articles under review and one to be submitted to journals indexed in Scopus/Web of Science; new submission of a revised article; one book chapter (APOGESD); Fitness Barometer in Portugal 2026; advancement of the technical-scientific book; two international communications (EASM 2026); organization of the XXVII APOGESD Congress and the VII Conference on Sports Management at UAL; training for municipalities; participation as a trainer in the COP program.