This special issue of the International Journal of Sports Finance (IJSF) features two pa­pers that were presented at the eighth conference of the European Sport Economics Association (ESEA). The conference was hosted by the Department of Economics, Econometrics and Finance at the University of Groningen, in close collaboration with the research school SOM. The conference began August 31, 2016, in the Noordlease Stadium of FC Groningen, and wrapped up September 2. In total, 97 abstracts were submitted for review, and 72 were accepted for presentation. A wide variety of coun­tries were represented by the 148 participants at the conference. As in previous years, colleagues from the United States and Australia attended, as well as a delegation from China.