The impacts of mega-sporting events on the host region can be huge and diverse, and literature supports the idea that such events can mainly produce positive outcomes (Smith and Fox 2007). To complement these impacts, cities are now attempting to use events to encourage social and economic regeneration. Legacy of an event ensures that as many as possible benefits are generated by the event for the hosts. The duration varies as these benefits are delivered well before, during and long after the event for all the stakeholders as well as the communities (Fairweather 2012). Further the author describes the socio-economic and destination image impact as a result of tourism the Games had on the host destinations .Legacy is a comparatively recent concept in the history of major sporting events, particularly legacy that is broader than economic impact (The Scottish Government 2014). Experts in the host environment of an event such as urban developers, engineers and architects obviously become vital participants of the Games preparation, subsequently the staging of the event needs construction projects in both sporting facilities and supportive infrastructure such as housing facilities, road constructions, regenerating of the host city and landmarks. (Malfas, Theodoraki and Houlihan 2004). It is often argued that the main reason behind the decision of a city, to host a mega-sporting event is the possible positive impact of the event on the local economy which further can develop the communal position of the host society.
In 1999, the Commonwealth Games Opportunities and Legacy Partnership Board was established to manage the legacy of the Manchester Games (Chris Gratton 2005). According to Bailey (2007), the games in Manchester acted as a catalyst and a deal of physical regeneration and economic investment, both in East Manchester where the games were held and the rest of the city. Manchester spent over £200 million on sport- ing venues in order to host the 2002 Games, with a further £470 million expenditure on other non-sport infrastructure investments. The construction of the sport facilities which had a major impact on the regeneration project of the city (Chris Gratton 2005).The area was radically transformed through multiple processes of rebranding and rebuilding. It was one of three Urban Regeneration Companies created by the government to deliver physical improvements to the built environment through partnership with existing agencies (Parkinson et al. 2006). East Manchester became one of the largest sites of urban regeneration in Britain. The Regeneration Framework in 2000 outlined a number of key aims, which included increasing the population of the area by 30,000, building 12,500 new homes and improving 7000 existing properties (Parkinson et al. 2006). It covered 1900 hectares of land and spreads from the edge of the city centre, along three arterial roads, to Tameside and the M60 orbital motorway (Mace et al. 2007).Till date, the city is investing with the council and regeneration head, for a new sixth form college, sports facilities and housing projects (Manchester Evening News 2014).
Many of Glasgow’s proposed legacy results were identified from Manchester’s success, which accomplished numerous outcomes and continue to be supportable and beneficial to the city. On a similar platform, Glasgow City Council and 2014 Commonwealth team aimed to ensure that investment was assigned and developed for the best possible outcome for the local communities involved. Equally, ‘A Games Legacy for Scotland’ was launched in 2009 which set out the legacy goals of the Scottish Government and its stakeholders (The Scottish Government 2014). Regeneration in the East End of Glasgow related mainly to the Sustainable theme of the Scottish Government’s legacy framework which had one of its outcomes to improve the physical appearance of Glasgow. According to a survey, the communities in the East End of Glasgow benefitted from the considerable amount of physical area changes as well as associated social and economic changes linked to the Games (GoWell 2014). Glasgow did not only restrict on building to sports venues following on from existing regeneration plans. The accelerated regeneration led by Clyde Gateway was not only about the physical transformation but also about involving local people and businesses in decisions and actions that impact on them and their community; giving them their say in influencing and shaping their area. Over a 20year period the Clyde Gateway development proposed including approximately 10,000 homes with around 20,000 new residents by 2028. Additionally, new and improved roads, public transport, parks and walkways were built which will create a lasting public infrastructure to support development of the areas economy. Further, events rapidly increase regeneration proposals and thus turn as catalysts for enhanced socio-economic progression where hefty investments are made. Nevertheless, the city's broader aims and plans should be connected, rather than be conveyed as separate proposals (Greg, Paula and Linda 2013).
The media coverage of the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the improved ‘Look of the City’ during the Games period made a major contribution to the image of Manchester worldwide. For example: Nearly 800,000 tickets were sold for the Games to a total of 400,000 people. The hotel occupancy prices in Manchester were considerably up with the number of rooms sold in July 2002 (57,689). The press coverage in the national and international media promoted Manchester and the Games via nearly 100 articles which were read by over 44m people across the world, securing over 88,000 cm of favorable print coverage. TV media coverage of 750 hours with target spectators up to 1 billion people worldwide. The initiative spent £4.5m on transport management schemes, remodeling, lighting such as banners and posters, mainly during the Games period, greatly enhanced the quality of the visitor and resident experience of the city center and the Games (Cambridge Policy Consultants 2002). The image effects post-Games were estimated to an additional £35m of inward investment to the raised profile of the City over the next 2-3 years. The Games additionally urged almost 30m individuals to consider Manchester as a feasible business and tourist destination and more than 2.5 million visits to englandsnorthwest.com, the Games Exchange site for information about Manchester and the Games since its dispatch in March 2002 (The Commonwealth Games Federation 2002). Thus the hosting of the games was not only beneficial for the tourism industry but is linked to all aspects of economic and social development. Manchester actively sought a program of tourism as a mean of showcasing the city as well as accelerating the process of urban renewal (Raj and Musgrave 2009).
Equally, The Glasgow Commonwealth Games led to £282m worth of tourism where around 690,000 people travelled to the city to attend the games (BBC 2014). The hotel occupancy in Glasgow reached 95% over the 25% which was accounted last year. 250,000 guests stayed overnight and 440,000 made day trips to the sporting and cultural venues in Glasgow and across Scotland (The Scottish Government 2014). With better accessibility into the country through new airline routes and transport links as a result of the Games, Scotland proved itself as a key source of economic value for the UK (Pooley 2014). Thus, the Games potentially transformed Glasgow from an already developed western city to a thriving tourist destination within Scotland (Visit Scotland 2014).