Designing a model for the development of esports in Iran with an emphasis on stakeholders

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Atefe Ensan 1
Ali Mohammad Safania 1
Seyed Salahaddin Naqshbandi 1
Aboulfazl Farahani 2
1 Sport Management Group, Science and Research Unit, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Sport Management, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/ntsmj.2025.2030402.1042
Abstract
Abstract

Esport is one of the growing and attractive fields, the development of which requires a structured and specific vision. Investigating and identifying the factors affecting the development of electronic sports in Iran can help the development of this field. Therefore, the aim of the current research was to design a model for the development of electronic sports in Iran with an emphasis on the stakeholders. The current research method is qualitative and exploratory research, and in terms of its purpose, it is considered as part of applied research. The participants in this research included experts and experienced people in the field of electronic sports, electronic sports players, managers of electronic sports clubs and expert electronic sports coaches, and the purposeful sampling method was used in the research. To collect information, in-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants and theoretical saturation was achieved with 17 interviews. For data analysis, Glazer's data base theory method was used to obtain information for this research. The results of the research show that the development model of electronic sports in Iran with an emphasis on the beneficiaries consists of six selected categories, which include infrastructure development, economic development, effective management, educational development, appropriate culture and socialization, and the development of beneficiaries. Finally, according to the pattern of development of electronic sports in Iran, with emphasis on the beneficiaries, necessary measures should be taken to create a suitable platform for development.
Keywords
ESports economy
ESports clubs
Digital infrastructure
ESports management
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