Center for Sports and Business and ENABLE Sweden In Strategic Partnership
Through combining research, culture, and innovation to shape a more sustainable and competitive sports model, the partnership aims to Advance Swedish Football and Sport
The Center for Sports and Business (CSB) at the Stockholm School of Economics and ENABLE Sweden are joining forces in a long-term collaboration to develop the future of Swedish sport. Rooted in Sweden’s tradition of member-based democracy, strong cultural identity, and vibrant supporter culture, the partnership aims to ensure these values can coexist with the growing demands for professionalization, improved working environments, increased financial capacity, and more dynamic governance — both locally and nationally.
Swedish football and sport are at a crossroads and must develop a hybrid model where tradition, conservatism, and identity meet increasing and complex demands around performance, economics, and professionalism. At CSB, we already bring together sports stakeholders, attract world-leading researchers in business and sport, and translate academic research into real-world impact. ENABLE Sweden’s deep understanding of football culture, practice, and stakeholders — and their proven ability to build trust across divergent interests — makes them an ideal partner.”
Martin Carlsson-Wall, Professor and Director of CSB
Uniting Different Logics for a Shared Future
CSB and ENABLE aim to bridge the nonprofit and commercial logics and act together as a progressive, knowledge-driven voice in shaping a new model for sport — in Sweden and beyond. We are driven by the conviction that friction and diverse perspectives are essential ingredients in meaningful reform.
A robust club democracy, community-based football organizations, and a strong supporter culture are core values for ENABLE Sweden. We believe Sweden can become a global leader while holding on to these values — but it requires greater member engagement, more resources, and stronger knowledge about the path forward. CSB has built an impressive organization that connects national and international networks of individuals, clubs, leagues, federations, and researchers to deliver concrete output through education, research, and policy. Swedish football and sport need reform — and ENABLE and CSB need each other to help make it happen.”
Filip Lundberg Verendel and Anders Almgren from ENABLE
The collaboration will focus on:
Developing joint education programs where theory meets practice
Facilitating a more vibrant public debate on the future of sport
Building new cross-sector networks to attract resources and drive real change
Creating a hybrid model where tradition and innovation work hand in hand
