Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the influence of enthusiasm, fair social distribution of costs and benefits and the quality of the information received through the media in the support for holding sporting events and in future intentions of the Football Copa America held in Chile. Design/methodology/approach – Through partial least squares structural equation modelling, two samples from two host cities (Concepción ¼ 373; Viña del Mar ¼ 267) are analysed. Findings – Enthusiasm, the perception of the fair distribution and the quality of the information positively influence the support for sporting events and the future intentions. In the same way, the quality of the information positively influences enthusiasm and fair social distribution. Significant changes were observed between the two cities in the relationships between the quality of the information and the variables of future intentions and enthusiasm and between this variable and those of support and the future intentions of the residents. Research limitations/implications – The convenience sampling limits the extrapolation of the results. Practical implications – An adequate management of the quality of the information, social justice and enthusiasm can contribute to forming a social representation of the event that determines the backing or the behaviour of the citizens. Social implications – Examination of the negative perceptions that cause bad feeling amongst the population receives a mega-event. Originality/value – The contribution of theoretical evidence about possible data can determine the social backing and the behaviour of the residents in welcoming a major sporting event.