Small-scale Sports Events Research Articles

The Emergence of “Small-Scale” Sport Events in “Small Island” Developing States: Towards Creating Sustainable Outcomes for Island Communities

Although academic literature has examined sport events in urban and rural communities, there is limited research on the forces and dynamics that influence the sustainability of sport events in islands. Cyprus represents a small island developing state with an embryonic event industry, which poses the question whether the emergence of new events can contribute to its sustainable development. The purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of two nascent sport events: the “Limassol Marathon” and the “Tour of Cyprus Cycling Challenge,” focusing on their prospects for creating strategic outcomes that can contribute to the sustainability and rejuvenation of Cyprus as a tourism destination. The study employed a triangulation research technique through the application of mixed methods, conducting first semistructured interviews with event organizers, and thereafter a survey examining the perceived experiences of event participants. Findings illustrate the interrelationships of new small-scale events that can amplify their synergistic value by enabling the achievement of multiple purposes. Implications are drawn concerning the synergistic value of small-scale sport events and the strategic processes for creating a range of sustainable event outcomes.

Consumers' Perceived Functions of and Attitude Toward Corporate Sponsors of Small-scale Amateur Sporting Events

Aspiring to become a sporting nation, one recommendation from Singapore's Vision 2030 is to develop a sustainable resourcing model by encouraging more corporate companies to sponsor sporting events. This research aimed to identify the perceived functions of corporate sponsors, which influenced consumers to develop positive attitudes toward these sponsors. A total of 210 undergraduate students participated in this study. The five perceived functions of corporate sponsors were ubiquity, sincerity, credibility, sponsor–event fit, and profit orientation. It was hypothesized that perceived ubiquity and profit orientation negatively influenced consumers' attitude while perceived sincerity, credibility, and sponsor–event fit were positive influences. A multiple regression test showed perceived ubiquity and sponsor–event fit as significant functions that positively influenced consumers' attitude toward corporate sponsors of small-scale sporting events.

Participant’s preferences for small-scale sporting events

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate sports participants’ choice behaviour and draw useful conclusions about the ideal features of small-scale sporting events that maximize attractiveness and desirability among potential competitors to attend and compete. Design/methodology/approach – Conjoint analysis was used to determine how participants value different elements and features of two small-scale cycling events, one in Taiwan and the other in Greece. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 195 cyclists during the event in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and to 169 competitors of a similar competition in Sfendami, Greece. It consisted of two basic parts. The first presented 19 alternative scenarios that have been associated with such sporting events while the second assessed the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of participant’s in order to provide an average profile of the participants in each location. The conjoint data collected was analysed using the SPSS “Conjoint Module” at the aggregate level (i.e. pooled data). Findings – Based on the preferences of these amateur cyclists the most important factors for Taiwanese events are “preferred season to organizing the event”, “registration cost”, and “preferred time period”, while those participating in the Greek event emphasized “registration cost” and “scenery”. Overall, the analysis highlights five differences and five similarities that exist between these two countries. Research limitations/implications – The study is small-scale and although sample sizes are sufficient to be representative of the participants in each event there are limitations in generalizing these results to larger sports meetings and other countries. Practical implications – The findings of this study provide event coordinators and sport marketers practical insights into small-scale event planning and the development of effective marketing strategies designed to appeal to a greater range of participants. Furthermore, the comparative nature of the study can facilitate a transfer of know-how which can be used for development of sport events in Mediterranean area, whose sport events’ organizers can, in the future, more effectively approach potential East Asian participants. Originality/value – This is the first study to use a combination of seven parameters in conjoint analysis to examine amateur cyclists’ preferences and is one on the few studies to examine the differences between Asian and European participants.

Why do People Attend Sport Events at Mature Tourist Destinations? An Analysis of Visitors’ Motivation to Attend the Windsurf World Cup on Sylt

Abstract Introduction. Sport events have become a popular tool for the marketing of tourist destinations. In this regard, it has to be kept in mind that the effects events can generate for destinations largely depend on the motivation of the attendees. Building on this insight, the aim of this paper is to compare the motivational structures of two types of visitors (primary purpose event visitors and casual visitors) to the German island of Sylt during a Windsurf World Cup. This event-destination combination was chosen because it represents the tendency for popular tourist resorts to use small-scale sport events in their marketing efforts. Material and methods. The research was conducted using an a priori segmentation of event attendees as casual visitors and primary purpose event visitors that is based on a well-established theoretical background. Results. The results revealed that both visitor groups were mainly motivated by cheering for the surfers and indulging in vicarious achievement. Furthermore, both showed some interest in learning more about the destination. Interestingly, many other motives that had been identified in (sport) tourism research did not seem to be very relevant for the respondents. Conclusion. Event marketers should heavily emphasise the opportunity to watch and closely relate to the surfers. Thus, including internationally popular athletes - if they are also popular in Germany - as well as local heroes in the event seems to be reasonable.

Attracting athletes to small-scale sports events using motivational decision-making factors

This study proposes and tests a model related to small-scale sport events using a conceptual model and a survey of athletes who participate in sporting events analyzed using structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The fsQCA results yield three models implying that small-scale event participants require a combination of attributes to consider or eventually participate. The SEM findings reveal that involvement, travel motives, and decision factors significantly affect motivational factors, and motivational factors significantly affect decision factors. A combination of positive motivation factors, positive involvement, and negative travel motives can significantly influence decision factors.

Elite Active Sport Tourists: Economic Impacts And Perceptions of Destination Image

Active sport tourism has been defined as travel away from the home environment to actively participate in sport. However there is a dearth of research focusing on active sport tourists. Furthermore, researchers also identified a significant gap existed in the sport tourism literature regarding elite athletes. Although research focusing on hallmark sport events has been abundant, several researchers have identified a lack of research on small-scale sport events. Thus, the purpose of this research was to provide an analysis of elite active sport tourists' expenditures and the resultant direct economic impact of these expenditures, as well as their perceptions of the host destination in a small-scale international sport event: East Asian Games. A total of 140 elite athletes from eight different countries and regions in East Asia participated in this study.

Exploring sense of community among small-scale sport event volunteers

Research question: In response to claims that sport event research over emphasizes economic outcomes and mega-event contexts, this research sought to both assess a scale that measures sense of community among small-scale sport event volunteers, and empirically test if the event volunteer experience enhances sense of community.Research methods: The six-factor Sense of Community in Sport Scale (SCS) was utilized to collect pre- and post-event data from a population of 253 (N = 253) event volunteers in the Niagara region of Canada.Results and findings: Model testing indicated all but one SCS factor, Competition, showed statistical fit with the event volunteer data. Analysis of variance revealed three SCS factors, Common Interest, Equity in Administrative Decisions and Social Spaces, were statistically enhanced following the event.Implications: The findings provide theoretical support for Warner and Dixon's Sport and Sense of Community theory and highlight the positive social impact of small-scale sport events within a community for volunteers.

Determinants of business engagement with regional sport events

Research question: Small-scale sports events provide commercial opportunities for regional communities, and yet research suggests that local commercial organisations are sometimes reticent to engage with sport event organisations to leverage benefits. This paper examines variation in business engagement with sport events and identifies determinants to sport event leverage that are previously unrecognised in the academic literature.Research methods: Using a multiple case study approach in three regions of eastern Australia, this research examines reactions to a sport event within each respective host business community. The multiple cases allow comparison of results across regions, using a mixed method strategy of personal interviews, observation and document analysis.Results and findings: The main findings reveal six key determinants of organisational engagement with regional sport events being: event cooperation, tourism dependency, business size, promotional strategy, strategic direction and skills and knowledge. These key determinants are explored to create a framework for future research in this area, and further contribute to the field of sport leverage research, with particular importance to sport events.Implications: The barriers to the development of strategies to maximise event leverage are identified and discussed, and in so doing implications for improving business relationships with sport events are explored. These implications are relevant to managing impacts upon businesses, visitors, and event and regional destinations.

Nautical small-scale sports events portfolio: a strategic leveraging approach

Research question: This study analyzes the leverage process of a nautical small-scale sports events portfolio, hosted in a tourist community of Portugal. Strategic goals were identified and the implementation process examined, according to economic and social leveraging models. Since these models have lack of empirical research, their application to real contexts may improve their contribution to the development of the sports events' strategic approach.Research methods: Fieldwork was conducted from February 2008 to June 2009. Direct observation of the events (6 days in average), document analysis (79 documents), and qualitative interviews were conducted (82 actors). Data were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis approach through the software – NVivo 9 by QSR International.Results and findings: Results showed a strategic approach emphasizing ‘enhancing the host’s destination image,' while other categories of the models were not so evident. The use of a portfolio approach favored the construction of the nautical destination brand.Implications: Cross-leveraging processes, enhancing coordination efforts, and planning ancillary events are key factors to successfully leverage a portfolio of events.

The role of small-scale sports events in developing sustainable sport tourism – a case study of fencing

Promoting sports and sport tourism is considered as a strategic development objective at the local, regional and national levels in Hungary. However, sport tourism is present in many different forms, depending on the type of sport activity, the related sport events and its participants, therefore it is challenging to decide on the type of sports and sports events that should be supported to ensure long-term social and economic benefits for a local community. The scale of sports events ranges from the small, local competitions to the international mega sports events. Although the economic benefits of mega sports events are generally appreciated, there has been growing critique about their negative social and environmental impacts. Smallscale sports events also have important potential for tourism, and they may have more advantages for the local community than the mega events by providing additional incomes, using the already existing infrastructure, raising local pride and community spirit. Sport tourism related to small-scale events is generally considered to be a more sustainable form of tourism. The purpose of this paper is to examine the tourism development potential of small-scale sports events, particularly focusing on fencing competitions. It highlights the demand side of the sport tourism market, investigating the behavioral profile of the participants of an international fencing tournament. A questionnaire survey was conducted at the Budapest WestEnd Women's Epee Grand Prix 2014. The data revealed that participants of the sporting event spend only a short period of time at the destination, and shopping and eating out are the most preferred free time activities. The paper identifies and discusses issues regarding the role of sports organizations and tourism agencies in cities hosting such events to increase the tourism potential of small-scale sports events in the future.

Designing small-scale sport events in the countryside

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to develop and illustrate a conceptual tool for the planning of rural sport events.Design/methodology/approach– The proposed model is elaborated based on theoretical contributions from the tourism and event literature, and illustrated with an empirical case concerning a sport and cultural event arranged in the Chianti countryside in Italy.Findings– The results suggest that a form of professionalization of the event design process, understood as the search of high-quality experience for the local population and the tourists, is feasible within the socialization style of model typical of small events.Research limitations/implications– This study is based on selected theoretical contributions, and on a limited empirical investigation. Further research is needed in order to better understand the event design process, and in particular the processes of communication and involvement among the different community members.Practical implications– The practical implications are related to the possible use of the developed model.Originality/value– The theoretical contribution of this study is relative to the use of the concept of tourism experience, and more specifically of the embodied tourism experience, within the context of event design.

Predicting visitors’ satisfaction and behavioral intentions from service quality in the context of a small-scale outdoor sport event

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test if the service quality model, proposed by Shonk and Chelladurai (2008), can be applied in the context of a small-scale sport event. Design/methodology/approach – This model proposes the following dimensions: access quality, venue quality and contest quality. Furthermore the study aimed to test if satisfaction acts as a mediator of the relationships between service quality and behavioral intentions. Findings – The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) provided support for the factorial validity of the service quality model. The psychometric properties of all the scales were satisfactory. In terms of the mediation analysis the results provided partially support for the hypotheses. Satisfaction fully mediated the relationship between access, venue quality and intention and partially mediated the relationship between contest quality and intentions. Furthermore, satisfaction partially mediated all the relationships between the quality dimensions and word-of-mouth communications. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed. Originality/value – This paper fulfils a need to develop a service quality model and its influence for visitors’ satisfaction and behavioral intentions at small-scale sport events.

Understanding sport event success: exploring perceptions of sport event consumers and event providers

The success of a sport event is an important outcome for both the organizing entity and the destination where the event is hosted to properly leverage its hosting. Utilizing the multiple constituency approach in assessing organizational effectiveness, the purpose of this study was to examine factors that contribute to the success of a sport event through the perspectives of the event providers and the spectators of small-scale sport events who experience the events. Employees from organizations from across the USA involved in the attraction and delivery of the event, namely local sports commissions and Convention and Visitor Bureaus of a destination, were asked to participate in the study to provide factors they perceived to make an event successful. In addition, spectators from two small-scale sport events were asked to describe the factors of successful small-scale sport events for them and their home community. The results revealed complementarity in the views from both sides and a differential weight placed on stated success factors for each group. Effective event management and delivery was the common denominator between the two entities. The supply side prioritized economic development while the demand side psychological and social events aspects. Implications are provided for event management, destination marketing and event leveraging.

Differences between first time and repeat spectator tourists of a youth soccer event: intentions and image approaches

The understanding of behaviours of sport tourists is an important topic for destination tourist development. Given that repeat visitation is often a desired outcome for tourism destinations, this study examines whether there are differences in behavioural outcomes and image perceptions of spectators of a small-scale sport event based on past behaviours. Data were collected from tourist spectators attending a youth soccer sport event. The hypotheses focused on differences among first-, second-, and third-time attendees regarding their future behaviours and images of the event and the destination. The results revealed no differences in these variables between the three groups. Implications for this study suggest that youth sport event spectators may form strong behavioural and image perceptions from the first time they attend the event, which do not change with attendance frequency. Destination marketers can invest marketing resources to attract first-time attendees and achieve long-term behavioural outcomes.

Application of Leiper's tourist attraction system to small-scale sport event tourism in Malaysia.

There is a lack of literature on sport tourists attending small-scale sport events and their travel behaviors in Malaysia. This lack of data makes it difficult for tourism authorities in to implement effective market segmentation and targeting. Thus it is necessary to conduct a study to explore the potential of small-scale sporting event as tourist attraction in Malaysia using Leiper’s (1990) tourist attraction system as framework. A study is conducted on participants and spectators attending a mountain bike race and motor cross events in Lake Kenyir Malaysia. Data were collected quantitatively from 400 subjects using the Leisure Motivation Scale developed by Ragheb and Beard (1983). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Visitors to sport event at Lake Kenyir fall into three categories: (1) sport excursionist, (2) active sport tourist and (3) passive sport tourists and the majority of the respondents (81.75%) were sport tourists. The results indicate factors such as competence mastery and intellectual factors are significant variables which motivate people to seek active sport-oriented vacations. Passive sport tourists are motivated by social factors and the need to escape from over stimulating situations. This study confirmed the usefulness of Leiper’s tourist attraction theory in sport tourism.

Small-scale event sport tourism: A case study in sustainable tourism

Scholars have suggested that small-scale sports events may be a sustainable form of tourism development for communities (e.g., Higham, 1999). The purpose of this study was to examine six small-scale sports events and the work of a local sports commission in the context of the three pillars of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental. Small-scale sports events are largely competitor or parent-as-spectator based, often annual, and attract little media attention. The six events were: a marathon, Senior Games, archery, soccer, softball, and swimming. The participants or spectators of the six events were surveyed onsite or online over an 18-month period and additional data from the sports commission, where relevant, were included. Sample sizes ranged from n=68 to n=447. The results suggest that a small-scale sports event portfolio consistent with a community's infrastructure and human and cultural capital may be a viable form of sustainable tourism development.

Spectators' Characteristics and Economic Impact of Local Sports Events: A Case Study of Cedar Valley Moonlight Classic Soccer Tournament

Within the events and attractions industry, short-term tourism events have increasingly gained popularity as catalysts for local economic development. Many communities promote sport, recreation and tourism opportunities to make full use of their recreational facilities, and to expand and diversify their local economy. Identifying who the spectators are in these small-scale sporting events will help to effectively apply marketing strategies and to accurately measure direct economic impact of such events. This study was designed to investigate the spectators' characteristics and the economic benefit of a small-scale sports event, the Cedar Valley Moonlight Classic Soccer Tournament, held at the Cedar Valley Youth Soccer Association complex in Waterloo, Iowa, in 2004 during the month of June. The findings are compared to area visitor statistics in order to help interpret the significance of local sport tournaments. IMPLAN Input-Output Model is utilized to assess the economic impact. The findings are useful to demonstrate the economic contribution to a community, and to illustrate to parks and recreation administrators an avenue for more effective decision-making and support for these types of events in their communities.