Stadium Attendance Demand Research: A Scoping Review

Dominik Schreyer,Payam Ansari

doi:10.1177/15270025211000404

Dominik Schreyer, Payam Ansari

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/15270025211000404

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Abstract

Because maximizing stadium attendance demand is of utmost importance, for both sports economists and sport management researchers, understanding the potential determinants of such demand better has become a priority in the last decades. Here, conducting a systematic scoping review, we map this previous research in terms of its characteristics, its nature, and its volume, thus offering a concise perspective on what has been previously explored, and, more importantly, what remains to be analyzed in the future. Intriguingly, we observe a lack of studies exploring data generated in both niche and women’s sports, as well as in most emerging markets. Further, the field has not yet established the use of disaggregated stadium attendance data, despite notable potential methodological pitfalls.

Highlights

Because maximizing stadium attendance demand is of utmost importance, for both sports economists and sport management researchers, understanding the potential determinants of such demand better has become a priority in the last decades
For executives operating in the field of professional sports, maximizing stadium attendance demand is of utmost importance
As football clubs are increasingly interested in diversifying their income sources, some clubs might benefit from auxiliary revenues generated through, for example, hotel stays, museum visits, and stadium tour bookings if attendance demand increases

Summary

Introduction

Because maximizing stadium attendance demand is of utmost importance, for both sports economists and sport management researchers, understanding the potential determinants of such demand better has become a priority in the last decades. Among the latter, Watanabe et al (2019), for instance, explored the potential role of air pollution in shaping stadium attendance demand in the Chinese Super League, paving an interesting new way towards a better understanding of how spectators respond to potential health threats on matchday – a theme that will certainly gain more importance in the future (e.g., Reade et al, 2020b).

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