Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>As a local policy instrument for promoting high-quality development of China’s sports industry, National Sports Industry demonstration bases play a significant role in regional development. This study treats their establishment as an exogenous shock, applies a multi-period difference-in-differences approach within a quasi-natural experiment and uses panel data from 208 Chinese cities (2015–2023) to examine effects on three dimensions: resident sports consumption, sports industry economic value and employment absorption capacity. Notably, demonstration bases have no significant effect on resident sports consumption or employment absorption; however, it significantly promotes the economic value of the sports industry and these findings are robust. Overall, demonstration bases drive regional sports economic development but do not improve employment or consumption level. Accordingly, this paper proposes three policy directions: upgrading evaluation mechanisms, strengthening employment transformation capacity and optimising product supply.</p>