A Multidimensional Investigation of a Regional Event Portfolio: Advancing Theory and Praxis

Abstract

Event portfolios have remained a neglected area of study as the different event types have been studied predominantly as single events, separately from each other and with a focus on large-scale events. In addressing this omission, this study investigates a regional event portfolio in Fort Stockton, Texas by employing qualitative methods, including participant observation in a sample of six events, seven semistructured interviews with event organizers, and analysis of events' archival documents. A dramatological perspective viewing events as dramatic stories that express versions of a community's social order was the conceptual framework that guided the analysis of events to examine their innate interrelationships. Results show that the event portfolio amalgamates sport and cultural performances and creates a symbolic social context, hence allowing the expression of different aspects of community life. The article discusses how the interrelationships among different events engender and maintain complementarities that facilitate event implementations. It is concluded that events are interrelated both conceptually and functionally. Thematic continuities among events in the portfolio reconfirm the metaphoric messages, with each event reinforcing the claims of the others. Events are functionally interrelated by sharing common resources and elements, generating complementary markets and transferring practical know-how. This helps mobilize community resources and facilitates the synchronized use of events for achieving multiple purposes. Based on the theoretical and practical implications of the study, a multidimensional model is proposed that integrates the contextual, operational, and sociocultural dimensions of event portfolios and can guide further investigation in the management and policy research of event portfolios.