Constructing a Service Efficiency Evaluation Index System for Public Sports Venues in China: An Empirical Study

Improving the service efficacy of public sports venues is essential for implementing the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and enhancing the national fitness public service system. From a dual perspective of “efficiency” and “capability” this study defines the theoretical meaning of public sports venue service efficacy. It employed the Critical Success Factors methodology to construct a three-dimensional evaluation evaluation index system comprising the Chinese Stadium Utilization Index, sustainable operational capacity, and public satisfaction. An empirical analysis was conducted across 161 public sports venues. Results show that high-efficacy venues should emphasize sustainable operations, while mid- to low-efficacy venues need to boost utilization. Some small and medium-sized venues in county-level areas demonstrated higher service efficacy than larger urban venues. Additionally, enterprise-operated venues showed stronger performance overall, with public institution-operated venues lagging primarily in utilization. Qualitative analysis identified indirect influencing factors such as functional positioning, resource allocation, operational expertise, service innovation, and evaluation mechanisms. Accordingly, the study recommends clarifying venue functions, adopting context-sensitive resource allocation, developing professional operation teams, encouraging innovation, and establishing inclusive evaluation mechanisms to drive improvement.