Launch Economy Empowering Sports Consumption Upgrading: Theoretical Framework and Practical Pathways

As an innovative economic paradigm emerging from China’s high-quality development phase, the launch economy has evolved into a strategic fulcrum for driving industrial transformation and consumption upgrading. Through literature research and logical deduction, this study systematically investigates the conceptual framework, value proposition, and underlying mechanisms through which the launch economy catalyzes the upgrading of sports consumption. The findings reveal that the launch economy, anchored in the principle of “first-mover creative supply”, facilitates the evolution of product-centric consumption models, integrates omni-channel consumption ecosystems, and reconstructs modernized supply-demand dynamics via the synergistic interaction among three key mechanisms: the supply-side innovation mechanism, the scenario-driven transformation mechanism, and the demand-side feedback mechanism. Beyond structural innovation, its transformative value lies in fostering incremental demand, reshaping consumption scenarios, catalyzing industrial upgrading, amplifying brand equity, and generating urban development momentum. The operational logic of this empowerment is further dissected across four dimensions: driving forces, execution mechanisms, diffusion pathways, and sustainability frameworks. To maximize the launch economy’s potential, this paper proposes actionable strategies, including: enhancing innovation in the supply-side dynamics of sports consumption; fostering vertical integration of sports consumption scenarios; adopting differentiated branding strategies for niche sports markets; and establishing a robust institutional framework to support launch initiatives in the sports sector.