Abstract: The article uses location entropy and coupling coordinated degree model to measure and analyze the coupling and coordinated development of sports industry agglomeration and regional economic growth in 15 provinces (cities and districts) in China from 2010 to 2018. The study shows that, the agglomeration degree of sports industry has significant regional differences, however, the overall trend shows a significant rise, and there is an obvious coupling characteristic between sports industry and regional economic growth. Looking from the coupling degree value, sports industry agglomeration and regional economic growth are about to cross the antagonistic period into the running-in period, ushering in a new mutual growth opportunity. The coupling coordination degree shows a slowly rising trend of broken line fluctuation, but it is still low on the whole, and no region has reached high-quality coordination or good coordination. The types of coupling coordination include medium-level coupling coordination economic lag, medium-level coupling coordination agglomeration lag, low-level coupling coordination synchronous development, low-level coupling coordination economic lag and low-level coupling coordination agglomeration lag. Finally, suggestions for improvement are put forward from the overall perspective. The overall planning guidance and regional gradient promotion work together, and resource factor integration and endogenous consumption power are driven jointly.

Key words: sports industry agglomeration, regional economic growth, coupling coordination