Research on the Impact of Digital Transformation of Sports Enterprises on Innovation Ability: The Case of Sports Listed Enterprises in China

The digital transformation of businesses is fast emerging as a new kind of catalyst for social and economic advancement in the context of the rising digital economy. This paper uses a time fixed effect model to measure the path of how digital transformation affects sports enterprises' ability to innovate. Using A-share listed sports concept listed companies from 2017–2022 as the research sample, the findings indicate that: (1) digital transformation significantly contributes to the development of sports enterprises' capacity for innovation; (2) digital transformation of sports enterprises enhances the level of innovation through the pathways of promoting the development of digital technology, improving the level of internal control, and upgrading the value chain; and(3) the impact of digital transformation on the level of innovation of sports enterprises Heterogeneity exists in the eastern and western regions.