Professional Sports Clubs Research Articles

Determinants of audience demand for the televised professional baseball matches in Korea

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine factors influencing the audience demand for televised post-season games of the Korean professional baseball league.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from a total of 129 games – the entire post-season games from 2008 to 2016. Two dependent variables representing audience demand for televised baseball matches, obtained from the third-party television audit company AGB Nielsen, were regressed on a series of match-related and unrelated antecedent factors associated with each match. Pooled OLS regression with wild bootstrap standard errors with 100,000 replications was applied in the analysis.FindingsRegarding match-related factors, higher television ratings and the greater numbers of television viewers were associated with matches with greater significance, outcome uncertainty and score sum. In terms of the match-unrelated factors, the broadcast platform appeared to be the most powerful predictor of both television ratings and the numbers of viewers. Other than the broadcast platform, night matches, matches with full stadium occupancy and team values showed positive impacts on both the television ratings and the numbers of viewers.Practical implicationsThe sales of media rights and sponsorships are the major sources of revenues for professional sports leagues, and the size of these two streams of revenues is in proportion to the size of the audience demand for television and other media. This study provides valuable insights to the sports marketers of professional sports clubs and leagues by establishing proper understanding of the determinants of the audience demand for televised sports.Originality/valueThe characteristics specific to each professional league and country play unique roles in determining the antecedent factors of audience demand for televised sports; this study is one of the few attempts to examine Koran professional baseball league.

Football clubs and regional image

Several studies describe and estimate the regional economic effects of sports clubs, most of which concentrate on estimating the monetary effects. In contrast to these studies, this present paper focuses on the intangible regional effects of sports clubs. More precisely, the aim is to analyse whether image effects extending from a professional sports club to a city can be identified, and whether personal characteristics moderate the relationship between club and city image. The city of Moenchengladbach and the well-known German Football Bundesliga club Borussia Moenchengladbach are used as an example. The data for the analysis of these effects was gathered through surveys conducted in the autumn of 2013. The results of descriptive statistics and regression analysis suggest that there is indeed a positive image transfer from the club to the city. In the competition of cities for target groups such as companies, residents, workers and tourists, a positive image can be a decisive factor. As the decisions of these groups codetermine regional economic development, a football club can evidently facilitate regional economic development beyond regional multiplier effects.

Motivace fanoušků fotbalu, hokeje a florbalu k návštěvě utkání profesionálních sportovních klubů

The article deals with the motivation of consumers of professional sports clubs of football, hockey and floorball to visit matches. Despite the apparent small increase in long-term attendance in selected sports, the average number of visitors compared to foreign countries is significantly lower. The impact can have several aspects, ranging from the unattractive matches or the players who are playing for the club, the bad priced pricing policy of individual clubs, the lack of promotion of the match, etc. To find out the results, the questionnaire survey was used during the individual sports matches, processed and evaluated. It has been found that the most frequent motives for visiting sports matches of selected sports are primarily the people with whom the people go to the match and then the feeling of relaxation and the atmosphere associated with the given match. Ticket prices, even personalities and individuality who are playing for the club, don’t play a role in deciding process.

FORMATION OF CHARACTER AND IMAGE OF SPORTSMAN AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN MASS MEDIA

As with any large organization, the core value of a professional sports club and its affiliates should be to build and maintain a strong image, which can naturally be the best tool for maintaining a positive reputation for the organization and its members, a well-formed image can be a competitive advantage over other athletes, and that is why there is an increasing focus not only on the image of the organization but also on the image formation of athletes in the media. The research aim - to analyze the image elements and their significance in shaping the image of the athlete in the media. The objectives of the research: to carry out the analysis of the structural elements of athlete's image from the theoretical point of view; to define the role of the media in shaping the image of the athlete; having established the significance of the structural elements of an athlete's image, to define the impact of an attractive athlete's image and the role of the media in the image-building process. Analysis of recent research and publications. The problem of the work is what structural elements make up the image and how it can be used to create an attractive image of the athlete in the media. Cornelissen (2001), Mamedaityte (2003), Druteikiene (2003), Scott (2008), Dulworth (2008), Goffman (2000), Arai et al. (2013), Neves et al. (2015), Arai et al. (2014), Charumbira (2014; 2018), Hasaan et al. (2016) and other authors discuss aspects of organizational and athletic image development, structural elements, image creation management, the impact of a positive image on competitive advantage, maintaining relationships with target groups, the marketing significance of image-building, the role of the media in image-building, and other significant image-forming topics. The following research methods are used for the purpose of the research aim: analysis and synthesis of scientific literature; qualitative research - structured interview, qualitative text analysis. The interview questionnaire is based on the theoretical material of the research and the objectives set. While preparing the research instrument, the first part of the question categories and subcategories are formulated using the model proposed by Arai et al. (2013; 2014) MABI (Model of Athlete Brand Image), which highlights three important aspects in shaping an athlete's image. The second and third question groups are based on the research of Charumbira (2016, 2018), Hasaan et al. (2016), which analyzes the role of the athlete in shaping the image of the athlete, including the media.Conclusions. Athlete's image consists of structural elements such as the athlete's experience, which includes competitive style, athletic mastery and behaviour during competitions, attractive appearance, expressed in physical and social attractiveness, style, clothing, body beauty, and demonstrated lifestyle that is characterized by a distinctive life story, relationship endeavors where the athlete is a role model and based on the lifestyle the image and athlete's reputation are formed. While social responsibility and reputation retention play an important role. An attractive image of an athlete may in part result in advertising space, television coverage or increased sponsorship. The media plays a key role in shaping the image of the athlete and is an important tool in the process.

A Weight-Loss and Healthy Living Program for Men Delivered in Swedish Football and Ice-Hockey Clubs (ViSiT): Results from the ViSiT Feasibility Study

Background: Men appear less interested than women in engaging in health-promoting programs. We investigated the feasibility and proof of concept of a novel intervention program targeting male supporters of professional sports clubs. Methods: Our intervention is called ViSiT and the target population in this study was overweight male supporters aged 35 - 65 years with a body mass index ≥ 28 kg/m2, recruited through one football and one ice-hockey club. The participants (n = 22) participated in a 12-week lifestyle intervention with a 52-week follow-up. Body fat was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results: The retention rate was high with 21 participants completing the 12-week program and 17 attending at least 10 of 12 sessions. Mean (standard deviation) body weight and fat reduction after 12 weeks was 8.2 (4.6) kg and 6.6 (3.6) kg, respectively. At 52 weeks, body weight and fat reduction were maintained at 6.4 (6.7) kg and 4.5 (6.5) kg. Even after 52 weeks follow-up, the participants appreciated most components of the ViSiT program and perceived the ViSiT program to have high impact on most health-related aspects investigated. Conclusions: The ViSiT program demonstrated a successful retention rate and clinically relevant weight reduction in Swedish overweight men. The maintenance of bodyweight reduction and positive experience after 1 year indicate a long-term effect of the ViSiT concept.

How Professional Sports Clubs Exploit A Heterogeneous Local Potential: The Case of Swiss Professional Ice Hockey

Switzerland’s National League is the world’s third most high-paying ice hockey championship after the NHL and the KHL, even though Switzerland is a small country with a population of 8.5 million and the league’s professional clubs are based in areas that vary enormously in terms of their local potential (demographic and economic). How do these clubs exploit such different local potentials? In this paper, we examine the relationship between a club’s local potential and its commercial, financial and sporting results. Based on our data, we outline the specific characteristics of the different models adopted by Switzerland’s first division ice hockey clubs and draw up an empirical typology of four types of club. Our study’s contribution is both methodological and empirical. We describe an operational model that can be used to characterize local potential and three types of club expertise: marketing, managerial and sporting expertise.

프로스포츠구단 유소년 클럽의 참여재미, 친구관계질, 사회적 유능감 간의 인과모형

The purpose of this study is to investigate the causal relationship among professional youth sports clubs’ participative fun, friendship qualities, and social competence of the youths who are actively participating in the professional youth sports clubs. For this study, I have gathered 345 samples of youths who are participating in professional youth sports clubs managed by professional sports clubs, and I have secured 309 valid samples of survey materials. The data have been processed using the program “SPSS 19.0” to conduct a questing factorial analysis and a credibility analysis. Moreover, using the program “AMOS 18.0”, I have conducted an analysis of a structural equation model to verify the study model. Meanwhile, the significance level is set to be 0.05. The following are the research results. Firstly, it turned out that participative fun of professional youth sports clubs affects friendship qualities significantly. More specifically, based on the analysis result of the final model, we can see that the analysis of effect about the research hypothesis of path coefficient significantly affects directly. Participation in professional youth sports clubs allows the participants to experience sports fun, such as breaking away from the routine of daily life, enhancement of health and fitness, improved interpersonal relations, and encountering competition and even gaining victories. Furthermore, interpersonal relations will be strengthened based on such experiences. Therefore, it is verified that such factors affect friendship in social relations significantly. Secondly, the participative fun of professional youth sports clubs affects social competence significantly. More specifically, based on the analysis result of the final model, we can see that the analysis of effect about the research hypothesis of path coefficient significantly affects both directly and indirectly. This proves that social competence such as social activity, social cooperation, social hyper sensitiveness, and social stability can be developed through professional youth sports club activities. Furthermore, it also proves that positive mutual synergy effect is affected significantly. For example, such increase in social competence level leads to an increase in the level of participative fun of professional youth sports clubs. Lastly, both friendship qualities and social competence of professional youth sports clubs are affected significantly. More specifically, based on the analysis result of the final model, we can see that the analysis of effect about the research hypothesis of path coefficient significantly affects directly. This suggests that social competence such as self-disclosure, intimacy, competency is increased through participation of professional youth sports clubs and through improvement of friendship qualities. It leads to smoother management of social lives. Moreover, positive changes of friendship qualities significantly affect social living abilities as well.

스포츠 윤리경영 척도 개발 및 타당화

The purpose of this study is to develop a scale to identify and measure the components of sports ethics management. For this purpose, we constructed the preliminary scale based on the existing research and the existing scale review and verified the feasibility of the five experts and conducted the preliminary survey. The study was conducted on 500 professional baseball fans. The results are as follows: First, the sports ethics management scale had 4 factors (ethic management system, society contribution activity, member supporting activity and fan supporting activity) and 16 items. The validity of the factor structure was verified by confirmatory factor analysis. Second, the validity of the developed scale was verified by the correlation between ethical management perception and social responsibility of professional sports club.

Examining unique attributes of products provided by professional sport clubs

Examining unique attributes of products provided by professional sport clubs

A study on the relationship between the organizational loyalty and external happiness of internal employees in professional sport clubs according to the type of CSR activities

A study on the relationship between the organizational loyalty and external happiness of internal employees in professional sport clubs according to the type of CSR activities

A Study of Competent Persons for the Staff of Professional Sports Clubs

A Study of Competent Persons for the Staff of Professional Sports Clubs

Правове становище професійних спортивних клубів і професійних спортивних ліг у системі спорту України: проблемні аспекти

Правове становище професійних спортивних клубів і професійних спортивних ліг у системі спорту України: проблемні аспекти

Safety aspects of whole-body cryochamber and cryosauna operation

Interest in low temperature treatment is constantly increasing. Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) devices are becoming available not only in medical centers but also in local gyms and spa centers. A new group of users are professional sport clubs where 3-minutes session of whole-body cryotherapy is post-training procedure to improve and speed up the recovery process. There are four different types of WBC devices available on the market and offered to commercial (non-medical) users. The American and European market is dominated by two of them: classic cryochambers and cryosaunas. Both constructions are supplied with liquid nitrogen. Low temperature inside classic cryochamber is produced by evaporating of liquid nitrogen in two or more heat exchangers. There is never a direct contact between user and cryogenic medium in any of system operation mode (closed supply system). Cryosauna is cooled down by filling with cold vapor of liquid nitrogen. Supply system is considered open because it allows for direct contact between user and cryogenic medium. Open supply system of cryosauna is primary and most questionable issue of its operational safety, particularly after tragic accident in October 2015. This paper presents the comparative analysis of classic cryochamber and cryosauna from safety point of view. Both devices have been analyzes and tested on existing systems in operation. Paper gives detailed analysis of constructions, supply systems and working parameters. Special attention has been focused to problem of oxygen deficiency hazard. Different failure or accident scenarios have been analyzed and discussed.

The relationship between big food corporations and professional sports clubs: a scoping review

BackgroundProfessional sport occupies a prominent place in cultures across the globe. Commercial organisations often use this prominence as a vehicle to promote their brands and products. There are increasing concerns about the growing number of people who are overweight and obese and the contributory role that marketing of processed food and drink plays. We therefore undertook a scoping review to explore the relationship between professional sports clubs and food and drink marketing. MethodsWe searched six databases (CINALH Plus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) from database start dates to March 27–31, 2017, using Boolean operators and search terms around professional sports clubs, marketing, food and drink, and health impacts (appendix). Experts were also consulted. Only English language publications were included. We excluded mega events (eg, Olympics, football World Cup) because of the attention already given to them. We likewise excluded alcohol marketing and sport, in view of the established literature exploring that relationship. FindingsWe identified 18 166 titles for examination after removing duplicates and 163 abstracts for reviews; and obtained the full text for 26 publications. We included six papers in the review; four were from Australia and New Zealand. The Australasian literature was concerned with the marketing of (unhealthy) food and beverages to children and the potential (negative) impact on eating patterns. Rugby league, Australian football, and cricket were sports that were identified. Single papers from Turkey and the USA explored issues around marketing and professional sports clubs. The Turkish paper analysed shirt sponsorship in football leagues internationally and showed that food and beverage (including alcohol) companies were the most common sponsors. The paper from the USA examined a mixed reaction to a football team named after an energy drink. InterpretationGiven the current focus on how processed food is marketed to children, it is surprising that professional sports clubs have eluded the scrutiny of academic public health in the UK. Our review highlights the lack of public health research in this area. Research that explores the interdependent commercial practices of food and drink companies and professional sports clubs is urgently needed. FundingUniversity of Glasgow in collaboration with the Medical Research Council's Social and Public Health Sciences Unit.

Explaining the Number of Social Media Fans for North American and European Professional Sports Clubs with Determinants of Their Financial Value

The aim of this article is to investigate the explanatory variables of the number of Facebook fans and Twitter followers for professional sports clubs based on the financial value literature. Such explanatory variables are related to local market conditions and on-field and off-field performance. Based upon a sample of North American major league clubs and the most valuable European soccer clubs as evaluated by Forbes over the 2011–2013 period (423 observations), our results indicate a range of variables with a significant positive impact on the number of social media fans: population, no competing team in the market, current sports performance, historical sports performance, facility age, attendance, operating income, expenses/league mean, and being an English football club. An improved understanding of the effectiveness of clubs’ social media presence is important for contemporary sport managers in terms of enhancing supporter communication, involvement, and accountability, as well as maximizing clubs’ revenue generation possibilities. Our findings could help sport managers to realize their clubs’ social media potential in pursuit of these objectives, specifically to understand which variables are under-exploited and why some clubs over-perform, which will allow managers to prioritize decisions to increase their number of social media fans and financial value.

FC Bayern München goes social – the value of social media for professional sports clubs

In 2010, FC Bayern München (FCB), one of the world's most successful football clubs, had just finished a successful season from a commercial perspective as well as on the field. With regard to its digital service portfolio, FCB had successfully established its digital content distribution and an e-commerce platform. However, the club seemed to have missed one major trend: the rise of social media. European competitors were already attracting large crowds on Facebook. The management was unsure about how social media would contribute to the digital strategy. In this teaching case, students need to prepare materials for a board meeting in June 2010, in which the digital road map for the upcoming season has to be decided upon. Furthermore, they are supposed to reflect on FCB's evolution from today's perspective. This teaching case helps understand how value can be generated through the use of social media. Additionally, it illustrates how social media enriches content distribution and how it contributes to fan loyalty.

프로스포츠구단의 바람직한 조직문화 형성에 관한 연구

프로스포츠구단의 바람직한 조직문화 형성에 관한 연구

Coaches as sport workers: professional agency within the employment context of elite European basketball

ABSTRACTIncreased activity of multiple stakeholders (e.g. agents and owners) have created new challenges for some coaches working in professional sports clubs. The purpose of this project was to draw attention to the normative or accepted practices inherent in sport work, some of the day-to-day realities of some coaches working in this context, and to understand how coaches’ perceptions of other stakeholders come to bear on their individual circumstances, career expectations/objectives and professional agency. Data were generated from semi-structured interviews with seven professional basketball coaches who worked in top-level European clubs. The analysis reveals the coach’s relationships between some owners and agents differed with respect to exercising professional agency, and, coach’s decisions and actions were tied to their professional ideals as well as understandings of what they need to undertake their work effectively and negotiation and/or adjustment strategies. Occasionally coach’s work practices could be viewed as antithetical to employment security, however, the presence of insecurity was at times embraced and used strategically to affect workers’ career decisions. Amid contemporary regional geo-political shifts, this work aids examinations of global sport settings, structures and issues that may contour sporting professionals’ lives.

Co-ordinated action between youth-care and sports: facilitators and barriers.

In the Netherlands, youth-care organisations and community sports clubs are collaborating to increase socially vulnerable youths' participation in sport. This is rooted in the idea that sports clubs are settings for youth development. As not much is known about co-ordinated action involving professional care organisations and community sports clubs, this study aims to generate insight into facilitators of and barriers to successful co-ordinated action between these two organisations. A cross-sectional study was conducted using in-depth semi-structured qualitative interview data. In total, 23 interviews were held at five locations where co-ordinated action between youth-care and sports takes place. Interviewees were youth-care workers, representatives from community sports clubs, and Care Sport Connectors who were assigned to encourage and manage the co-ordinated action. Using inductive coding procedures, this study shows that existing and good relationships, a boundary spanner, care workers' attitudes, knowledge and competences of the participants, organisational policies and ambitions, and some elements external to the co-ordinated action were reported to be facilitators or barriers. In addition, the participants reported that the different facilitators and barriers influenced the success of the co-ordinated action at different stages of the co-ordinated action. Future research is recommended to further explore the role of boundary spanners in co-ordinated action involving social care organisations and community sports clubs, and to identify what external elements (e.g. events, processes, national policies) are turning points in the formation, implementation and continuation of such co-ordinated action.

Challenges in Measuring International Strategic Performance in Professional Team Sports – Two Case Studies from Hungary

We analysed the key strategic challenges in measuring performance of professional sports clubs in international context by using the case study methodology. The analysis of the examined handball and football clubs revealed that domestic success is a weak indicator of international success. Also, the occasional surge in international revenues is challenging to translate into a sustainable flow of revenues. Moreover, through a strategically driven process the social benefits of clubs services can become relevant to international markets. We argue that the findings from the professional sports sector can be transferable to other business fields in terms of the complex relationships between the analysed performance drivers.