Diagnosing bottlenecks in sports space satisfaction of commercial complexes based on IPA analysis and accurate enhancement strategies: A case study of Shanghai, China

Embedding sports functions in commercial complexes revitalizes urban spaces, yet traditional evaluation methods struggle to capture dynamic user experiences in these hybrid environments. To address this, this study constructed a user-generated data informed design feedback loop framework combining grounded theory with Importance-Performance Analysis to evaluate user satisfaction with sports spaces within commercial complexes. Through the semantic analysis of 10,436 online reviews from 10 commercial complexes in Shanghai, the research identified 8 dimensions and 27 influencing factors regarding user satisfaction. Results revealed critical spatial performance gaps in site layout and equipment. While experiential elements like venue ambiance received high ratings, they still fell short of expectations. Additionally, varying satisfaction levels across diverse sports categories indicated that current integrated designs fail to address multiple user needs. The study proposed a three-tiered spatial improvement system focusing on spatial entity optimization, adaptive mechanisms, and collaborative governance. Strategies derived from IPA-diagnosed deficiencies included activity-oriented spatial clustering, refined circulation hierarchies, strengthened visual permeability, and zoned environmental control. This provides a scalable evaluation method and design rationale for functional regeneration of commercial complexes in high-density urban environments. It demonstrated how user-generated data informs precise spatial interventions to shape resilient, socially responsive mixed-use environments.