Evaluating event owners' needs in the feasibility study
Before committing to a bid, a city should assess how appealing it looks from the event owner's side. The rights holder chooses the host, and they weigh roughly ten factors.
Score the city against the ones that matter most to that owner. If the gaps are large, fix them before bidding rather than after losing.
Preparing a bid starts with a feasibility study — is the city ready and suited to host? It covers the host city, the organiser, the venue, the local business ecosystem, and most of all the rights holder: the organisation that decides who hosts. Before going further, a city should look at itself through that owner's eyes. Skip this and the whole bid may not be worth the effort.
- Venue quality and capacity. The venue must meet the event's requirements for size, facilities and suitability.
- Economic incentives. Tax breaks, grants or subsidies can make a host more appealing.
- Experience and track record. A history of hosting similar events reads as reliability.
- Infrastructure and logistics. Transport, accommodation and logistics support keep operations smooth.
- Public and media support. Local enthusiasm and positive coverage build momentum.
- Safety and security. Owners need assurance of comprehensive security and emergency plans.
- Cost and budget. The event has to be deliverable without financial strain on either side.
- Local partnerships and support. Strong local business and sponsor backing signals capacity.
- Environmental and social responsibility. Sustainability is increasingly a deciding factor.
- Potential for future events. A city that could host again may become a preferred partner.
Each event is different, and the priorities shift with the owner's goals. You don't need to excel at all ten. Focusing on the factors that matter most to that specific owner is what makes a bid competitive.
Why this belongs in the feasibility study
Assessing the owner's needs is what decides whether to proceed at all. It shows how well the city aligns with the owner's expectations, and where the gaps are. Large gaps are a signal to improve before bidding, not after. It also surfaces the city's real strengths — an exceptional venue, a strong track record — so the bid can lead with them. This is one part of the wider major event funnel, and it sits alongside the fuller set of moves behind a winning bid.
You don't have to be strong on every factor. You have to be strong on the ones this owner is weighing.
The feasibility tools and the evaluation criteria for the other stakeholders in a bid are at Host City Strategy.
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