Girish Ramchandani, PhD MSc BA

Girish is a senior member of the SIRC team and was involved in the development of the original content for the eventimpacts.com website for UK Sport and its national partners (and its subsequent refresh in 2016). He has undertaken more than 100 economic impact studies of major events (primarily sport but also some cultural) on behalf of event funders (e.g. UK Sport), organisers (e.g. the All England Lawn Tennis Club) and national governing bodies (e.g. British Cycling). Girish is a collaborator and research scientist with the Spectator Experience and Technology (SEAT) Laboratory based at the University of Waterloo in Canada that was set up to explore the role of sport spectator experiences in the promotion of individual health and wellbeing.

Girish has applied Social Return on Investment (SROI) principles to conduct social impact valuations of sport participation at different levels of geography within the UK (e.g. for Sport England, Sport Wales, London Sport and Sheffield City Trust). He was involved in delivering an Erasmus+ funded research project that led to the production of a process model to measure the benefits of outdoor sport to society in Europe. Girish also has a good grasp of, and keen interest in analysing, national-level datasets relating to sport participation (e.g. the Active Lives Survey) as well as devising techniques to measure the prevalence of home advantage and the level of competitive balance in elite and professional sport. 

Girish has co-authored the book The Global Economics of Sport and his research has been published widely in peer-reviewed academic journals. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Global Sport Management and Managing Sport and Leisure.

Below is a sample of externally funded research projects for which Girish has been the Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator (CI).

Major Events' Research

2019 UCI Road World Championships (PI): This project was commissioned jointly by UK Sport, Sport England and British Cycling and examined the social impacts of the event and its funded legacy programme.

2019 Netball World Cup (PI): This project commissioned by UK Sport quantified the economic and social impacts of the event.

The Open (CI): Economic impact assessment of 10 editions of The Open from 2010 to 2019 on behalf of The R&A.

2019 Solheim Cup (CI): Economic impact assessment of the event for Visit Scotland.

Ryder Cup (CI): Economic impact assessment of the 2014 and 2018 editions for Ryder Cup Europe.

Impacts of World / European Championships (PI): Evaluation of the economic and social impacts of 30 UK Sport funded events between 2014 and 2018.

UCI Cycling World Championships (PI): A forecast of the likely economic impact on Scotland from hosting the inaugural combined event in 2023 commissioned by UK Sport.

Wimbledon (CI): Economic impact assessment in 2006 and 2016 for the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

Henley Royal Regatta (CI): Economic impact assessment in 2017 on behalf of the organisers.

London Marathon (CI): Economic impact assessment of the 2010 and 2015 editions on behalf of the organisers.

Social Value / Return On Investment Research

Social return on investment in sport in England (CI): This project estimated the social value and return on investment in sport in England in 2015 and 2019 linked to the areas of physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, individual development and community development.

Benefits of outdoor sport to society (CI): This project was completed in 2019 and involved the development of a process model and accompanying toolkit with case study examples to value the social impacts of outdoor sport projects in Europe.

Social return on investment in sport in Wales (CI): This project estimated the social value and return on investment in sport in Wales in 2018 in relation to health, wellbeing, crime reduction, educational attainment and volunteering.

Social return on investment for sport and physical activity in London (CI): This project estimated the social value and return on investment in sport and physical activity in London in 2017 using a similar approach to the work undertaken for England and Wales.

Key Publications

Davies, L., Taylor, P., Ramchandani, G., & Christy, E. (2019). Social return on investment (SROI) in sport: a model for measuring the value of participation in England. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics. http://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2019.1596967

Ramchandani, G., Coleman, R., & Christy, E. (2019). The sport participation legacy of major events in the UK. Health Promotion International, 34 (1). http://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dax061

Wilson, D., & Ramchandani, G. (2018). A comparative analysis of home advantage in the Olympic and Paralympic Games 1988-2018. Journal of Global Sport Management.

Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, R. (2018). The unintended consequence of Financial Fair Play: An examination of competitive balance across five European football leagues. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal. http://doi.org/10.1108/SBM-03-2018-0025

Ramchandani, G., Plumley, D., Boyes, S., & Wilson, R. (2018). A longitudinal and comparative analysis of competitive balance in five European football leagues. Team Performance Management, 24 (5/6), 265-282. http://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-09-2017-0055

Kokolakakis, T., Lera Lopez, F., & Ramchandani, G. (2018). Did London 2012 deliver a sports participation legacy? Sport Management Review. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2018.04.004

Wilson, R., Ramchandani, G., & Plumley, D.J. (2018). Parachute payments in English football: Softening the landing or distorting the balance? Journal of Global Sport Management, 3 (4), 351-368. http://doi.org/10.1080/24704067.2018.1441740

Ramchandani, G., Shibli, S., & Kung, S.P. (2018). The performance of local authority sports facilities in England during a period of recession and austerity. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 10 (1), 95-111. http://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2017.1420676

Ramchandani, G., Coleman, R., & Bingham, J. (2017). Sport participation behaviours of spectators attending major sports events and event induced attitudinal changes towards sport. International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 8 (2), 121-135. http://doi.org/10.1108/IJEFM-02-2016-0014

Ramchandani, G., Davies, L., Coleman, R., Shibli, S., & Bingham, J. (2015). Limited or lasting legacy? : the effect of non-mega sport event attendance on participation. European Sport Management Quarterly, 15 (1), 93-110. http://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2014.996583

Ramchandani, G., Kokolakakis, T., & Coleman, R. (2014). Factors influencing the inspirational effect of major sports events on audience sport participation behaviour. World Leisure Journal, 56 (3), 220-235. http://doi.org/10.1080/16078055.2014.938296

Davies, L., Coleman, R., & Ramchandani, G. (2013). Evaluating event economic impact : rigour versus reality? International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 4 (1), 31-42. http://doi.org/10.1108/17582951311307494

Ramchandani, G., & Coleman, R. (2012). The inspirational effects of three major sport events. International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 3 (3), 257-271. http://doi.org/10.1108/17582951211262693

Ramchandani, G., & Coleman, R. (2012). Testing the accuracy of event economic impact forecasts. International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 3 (2), 188-200. http://doi.org/10.1108/17582951211229726

Journal articles

Polyakova, O., & Ramchandani, G. (2020). Perceived service quality among regular users of gyms in public sports centres in the UK. Managing Sport and Leisure. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2020.1853594

Davies, L., Taylor, P., Ramchandani, G., & Christy, E. (2020). Measuring the Social Return on Investment of community sport and leisure facilities. Managing Sport and Leisure. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2020.1794938

Callender, N.A., Hart, P.W., Ramchandani, G.M., Chaggar, P.S., Porter, A.J., Billington, C.P., & Tiller, N.B. (2020). Case-Studies in Physiology: The exercise pressor response to indoor rock climbing. J Appl Physiol (1985), 129 (2), 404-409. http://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00357.2020

Plumley, D., Mondal, S., Wilson, R., & Ramchandani, G. (2020). Rising stars: competitive balance in five Asian football leagues. Journal of Global Sport Management. http://doi.org/10.1080/24704067.2020.1765700

Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, D. (2020). Does a home advantage effect exist in international track and field athletics? Managing Sport and Leisure. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2020.1723434

Ramchandani, G., Millar, R., & Coleman, R. (2019). The perceived influence of sport event spectatorship on subjective wellbeing. Journal of Global Sport Management. http://doi.org/10.1080/24704067.2019.1669066

Ramchandani, G., Plumley, D., Preston, H., & Wilson, R. (2019). Does size matter? An investigation of competitive balance in the English Premier League under different league sizes. Team performance management. http://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-10-2018-0064

Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, R. (2019). Editorial: Performance management in professional team sport. Team performance management, 158-161. http://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-07-2019-0067

Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, R. (2019). Guest editorial. Team Performance Management, 25 (3-4), 158-161. http://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-06-2019-080

Plumley, D.J., Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, R. (2018). Mind the gap: an analysis of competitive balance in the English football league system. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing (IJSMM), 18 (5), 357-375. http://doi.org/10.1504/IJSMM.2018.094344

Ranchordas, M., Tiller, N., Ramchandani, G., Jutley, R., Blow, A., Tye, J., & Drury, B. (2017). Normative data on regional sweat-sodium concentrations of professional male team-sport athletes. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14 (1), 40. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0197-4

Wilson, D., & Ramchandani, G. (2017). An investigation of home advantage in the Summer Paralympic Games. Sport Sciences for Health, 13 (3), 625-633. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-017-0393-2

Wilson, D., & Ramchandani, G. (2017). Home advantage in the Winter Paralympic Games 1976–2014. Sport Sciences for Health, 13 (2), 355-363. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-017-0365-6

Bullough, S., Ramchandani, G., Coleman, R., & Millar, R. (2017). Central contracts in Test cricket: a model of best practice? Managing Sport and Leisure, 21 (5), 338-352. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2017.1283643

Kokolakakis, T., Ramchandani, G., & Coleman, R. (2015). Attendance patterns and factors affecting participation in organized walks: an investigation of Natural England's Walking for Health programme. World Leisure Journal, 57 (2), 104-117. http://doi.org/10.1080/16078055.2015.1034341

Bullough, S., Millar, R., Ramchandani, G., & Coleman, R. (2014). The effect of central contracts on the stability and performance of the England Test cricket team. [El efecto de contratos centrales sobre la estabilidad y el desempeño del equipo inglés de Test cricket]. RICYDE. Revista internacional de ciencias del deporte, 10 (35), 4-15. http://doi.org/10.5232/ricyde2014.03501

Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, D. (2014). Historical and contemporary trends in competitive balance in the Commonwealth Games. [Las tendencias históricas y contemporáneas en el equilibrio competitivo en los Juegos de la Commonwealth]. RICYDE. Revista internacional de ciencias del deporte, 10 (35), 75-88. http://doi.org/10.5232/ricyde2014.03506

Plumley, D.J., Wilson, R., & Ramchandani, G. (2014). Towards a model for measuring holistic performance of professional Football clubs. Soccer and Society, 18 (1), 16-29. http://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2014.980737

Wilson, R., Plumley, D.J., & Ramchandani, G. (2013). The relationship between ownership structure and club performance in the English Premier League. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal, 3 (1), 19-36. http://doi.org/10.1108/20426781311316889

Ramchandani, G. (2012). Competitiveness of the English Premier League (1992-2010) and ten European football leagues (2010). International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 12 (2), 346-360. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/uwic/ujpa/2012/00000012/00000002/art00008

Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, D. (2012). India's performance in the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games : expected or otherwise? Managing Leisure, 17 (2-3), 257-273. http://doi.org/10.1080/13606719.2012.674398

Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, D. (2011). Do differences in gender and sport affect home advantage? : a case study of the Commonwealth Games. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 11 (3), 510-521. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/uwic/ujpa/2011/00000011/00000003/art00011

Ramchandani, G., & Taylor, P. (2011). Quality management awards and sports facilities' performance. Local Government Studies, 37 (2), 121-143. http://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2011.554824

Coleman, R., & Ramchandani, G. (2010). The hidden benefits of non-elite mass participation sports events : an economic perspective. International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, 12 (1), 24-36. http://www.imrpublications.com/imr/journal-landing.aspx?volno=12&no=1

Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, D. (2010). Home advantage in the Commonwealth Games. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 22 (1), 8-11. http://www.sajsm.org.za/index.php/sajsm/article/view/167

Davies, L., Ramchandani, G., & Coleman, R. (2010). Measuring attendance: issues and implications for estimating the impact of free-to-view sports events. International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, 12 (1), 11-23. http://www.imrpublications.com/journal-landing.aspx?volno=L&no=L

Kokolakakis, T., & Ramchandani, G. (2008). Looking ahead. Leisure Management.

Conference papers

Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G., Mondal, S., & Wilson, R. (2019). Rising stars. Competitive balance in five Asian football leagues. In European Association for Sport Management.

Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, R. (2018). The unintended consequence of Financial Fair Play: An examination of competitive balance across five European leagues. In European Association for Sport Management.

Ramchandani, G., Plumley, D., boyes, S., & Wilson, R. (2018). A longitudinal and comparative analysis of competitive balance in five European football leagues. In European Association for Sport Management.

Wilson, R., Plumley, D., & Ramchandani, G. (2017). Parachute Payments in English Football; Softening the Landing or Distorting the Balance? In European Association for Sport Management.

Plumley, D., Wilson, R., & Ramchandani, G. (2012). Where next for FFP? Towards a model for measuring financial performance and financial sustainability in the English Premier League. In European Association for Sport Management.

Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G., Wilson, R., & Preston, H. Does size matter? An investigation of competitive balance under different league sizes. In European Academy of Management.

Book chapters

Ramchandani, G., Coleman, R., Davies, L., Shibli, S., & Bingham, J. (2017). Valuing the inspirational impacts of major sports events. In Lundberg, E., Armbrecht, J., Andersson, T.D., & Getz, D. (Eds.) The value of events. (pp. 136-158). Abingdon: Routledge: https://www.routledge.com/The-Value-of-Events/Lundberg-Armbrecht-Andersson-Getz/p/book/9781138678415

Ramchandani, G., Coleman, R., Davies, L., Shibli, S., & Bingham, J. (2017). Valuing the inspirational impacts of major sports events. In The Value of Events. (pp. 124-135). http://doi.org/10.4324/9781315558950

Gratton, C., Liu, D., Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, D. (2015). The global economics of sport. In Byers, T. (Ed.) Contemporary issues in sport management : a critical introduction. (pp. 67-84). London: SAGE: https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/contemporary-issues-in-sport-management/book242153#9781446282182

Kung, S.P., Ramchandani, G., & Taylor, P. (2010). Profiling customer satisfaction and the importance of english public sport facilities' service dimensions. In Long, J., Fitzgerald, H., & Millward, P. (Eds.) Delivering Equality in Sport and Leisure. (pp. 69-92). Eastbourne: Leisure Studies Association: http://www.leisure-studies-association.info/LSAWEB/NewTitle/115.html

Reports

Kokolakakis, T., Davies, L.A.R.I.S.S.A., Shibli, S., & Ramchandani, G. (2017). Active Lives Adult Survey:Understanding Mental Wellbeing, Individual Developmentand Social and Community Development in the context ofparticipation and volunteering in sport and physical activity. https://sportengland-production-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/active-lives-adult-survey-detailed-report-december-2017.pdf

Kokolakakis, T., Davis, L., Shibli, S., & Ramchandani, G. (2017). Mental wellbeing, individual and community development analysis.Presentation. https://sportengland-production-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/active-lives-adult-survey-report-december-2017.pdf

Kokolakakis, T., & Ramchandani, G. (2016). Longitudinal Analysis of Sport Volunteering Using the Taking Part Survey.

Davies, L., Taylor, P., Ramchandani, G., & Christy, E. (2016). Social return on investment in sport : a participation wide model for England. Department for Culture, Media and Sport. https://www4.shu.ac.uk/_assets/pdf/research/sirc/Final-SIRC-SROI-England-Web-report.pdf

Kokolakakis, T., Ramchandani, G., & Loughborough_University, (2015). Sports participation changes in London following London 2012 with national and international comparisons. https://files.datapress.com/sport/migrate/LSR25%20London%20Sport%20-%20European%20City%20Comparison%20Report%20(Loughborough).pdf

Kokolakakis, T., Coleman, R., & Ramchandani, G. (2011). Walking for health attendance study.

Theses / Dissertations

Wilson, D. (2019). An Analysis of Nations' Performance inInternational Multi-Sport Competitions. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Ramchandani, G. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00207

Ramchandani, G. (2014). Economic, sport development and elite performance consequences of sports events. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Shibli, S.

Other publications

Coleman, R., Ramchandani, G., Shibli, S., Munday, M., Jones, C., & Brown, A. (2010). Event impact evaluation framework and toolkit. Event Impacts: http://www.eventimpacts.com/

Girish has successfully supervised four PhD completions (including three on the basis of published work). He is currently supervising one PhD candidate.