European Port Cities and Urban Regeneration: Exploring Cultural and Sporting Mega Events at the Water's Edge

Culture-  and event-led regeneration have been catalysts for the transformation  of redundant urban port areas and for the reframing of the image of many  port cities, which notably feature among mega-event bidding and host  cities. However, there is little understanding of the impacts of these  processes on port-city relationships, as well as of how port city  cultures shape mega events and the related regeneration strategies. The  book examines the underexplored mutual links between, on the one hand,  urban and socio-economic regeneration driven by cultural and sporting  mega events and, on the other hand, the spatial, political and symbolic  ties between cities and their ports. 

By adopting a  cross-national, comparative perspective, with in-depth case studies  (Hull, Rotterdam, Genoa and Valencia) and examples from other port  cities across the world where mega events were held, the book engages  with issues such as the tension between port and cultural uses,  reactions and opposition to mega events in port cities, clashing urban  imaginaries drawing on port activity and culture, the role of port  authorities and companies in the city’s cultural life, the  spectacularisation and commodification of local maritime culture and  heritage, processes of cultural demaritimisation and remaritimisation of  port cities.

The book is therefore a contribution  towards the bridging of port city and mega-event studies, and it  provides insights for port city policy makers and mega-event promoters,  drawing from a range of international experiences. The book also shows  how societal and political change in the current  ‘ontologically-insecure’ times may undermine the very paradigm of  culture- and event-led regeneration in the years to come.