Event Sponsorship Research Articles

What Cigarillo Companies are Putting on Instagram: A Content Analysis of Swisher Sweets' Marketing from 2013 to 2020.

Tobacco marketing includes text and visual content, which conveys important meaning to consumers and influences use. Little is known about the marketing tactics used by a popular brand of cigarillos on social media to promote their products, including their visual design. A content analysis was conducted to analyze text and visuals for all posts on Swisher Sweets' official Instagram account from Jan 23, 2013 to Feb 28, 2020. We assessed product depictions (e.g. warnings, smoking cues), presence of FDA-prohibited or potentially misleading claims (e.g. lower risk, organic), marketing tactics (e.g. celebrities, selling propositions), flavors, and demographic representation. We coded 1402 posts. Smoking cues (e.g. images of people smoking, product imagery) were in 764 posts (54.5%), and a warning appeared in 690 (49.2%) posts, but obscured in 29.4% of those instances (n = 203). No posts included FDA-prohibited claims, but some potentially misleading language was identified, including the use of words or visual depictions of smooth (n = 254, 18.1%) and quality/well-made (n = 239, 17%). Marketing tactics such as scarcity (n = 159, 11.3%), event promotion (n = 586, 41.8%), and alcohol depictions (n = 171, 12.2%) were common, and flavor names appeared in 598 posts (42.7%). People depicted were often young adults (n = 709, 50.6%), Black/African American (n = 549, 39.2%), and in groups (n = 473, 33.7%). Both text and visuals are used to market Swisher Sweets on their Instagram account. Using social images of young adults, especially Black individuals, signals the intended use of the product. These images of visual-based social media may influence appeal, glamorization, and normalization of cigarillo smoking among vulnerable populations. Tobacco marketing, including from popular cigarillo brands like Swisher Sweets, is widely used to influence consumer perceptions and behavior. Social media marketing includes text and visual, both of which increase product appeal and encourage use. Visual-based social media from the industry itself have been understudied, particularly for cigarillos. This study characterizes the ways in which Swisher Sweets uses text and visuals to market their products through their Instagram account, including smoking cues, potentially misleading language, use of celebrity endorsers, and promotion and sponsorship of events.

Sponsor effectiveness and its impact on League of Legends fan buying attitude

Introduction: The Brazilian League of Legends Championship is currently one of the main competitive tournaments in the eSports scene. For companies, being present in this niche expands a wide window of visibility for the sponsoring brands, so it is at this moment that they expose their products or services, and it is important to analyze the sponsor's effectiveness in the purchase attitude. Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of sports sponsorships in the League of Legends environment in Brazil and its influence on the purchasing attitude of sports consumers. Methodology: It is characterized as a quantitative approach. Composed of 215 fans, who watched at least one CBLOL game, in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and who are at least 18 years old. An adapted instrument was used that seeks to analyze the sponsor's effectiveness in the purchase attitude. The collection took place online during the years 2021 and 2022. Results and Discussion: According to the sociodemographic profile of the sample, most were men, young people, with complete high school and employed. All dimensions were positively evaluated, which leads to a good effectiveness of brand sponsorship strategies. According to the global model, the results of the analysis showed a valence of 64% in the variation of purchase intentions. Thus, it is important that brands have strategies to be remembered by fans, because it is through this action that the buying attitude will occur. Conclusion: The dimensions analyzed here determined the effectiveness of sponsorship, which positively influences the purchasing attitude of League of Legends fans in relation to the products and services of the sponsoring brands.

The Effect of Sport Sponsorship on Brand Equity: A Study Within the Context of Professional Soccer

This study examines the effects of sport sponsorship on brand equity. More precisely, the impact of sport sponsorship is assessed for each of Aaker’s (1991) components of brand equity: brand personality; brand awareness; brand associations; perceived quality; brand loyalty. Research is conducted within the domain of a sports team sponsorship, specifically Nivea Men’s sponsorship of Liverpool Football Club. The results demonstrate that all five components of brand equity are positively influenced by sport sponsorship, ultimately supporting the proposition that sport sponsorship has a positive impact on brand equity. While sponsorship may not by itself be sufficient for brand equity building or sales enhancement, sponsors should be able to leverage their association with the team to promote their benefits and motivate fan engagement.

On the occasion of the first Argumentation Network of the Americas special issue

In this short commentary, I identify a common theme that argumentation scholars of and from the Americas might have in common - despite the vast heterogeneity of their research interest. I trace the interest in moral and political dimension of argumentation through ANA sponsored events and publication and make the case that this is a welcome development.

Changes in public support for alcohol policies in NSW, Australia, 2013-2019.

Alcohol contributes to significant health, social and economic burdens worldwide, but evidence-based policy options can reduce the harm associated with alcohol use. The aim of this paper is to understand factors influencing public support for various alcohol policies in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and to determine any change over time. An online survey of adults in NSW, in 2013 (n = 2482), 2016 (n = 1585) and 2019 (n = 1601), assessed support for alcohol policies. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the change in support over time, adjusting for demographics, alcohol consumption, smoking status and knowledge of alcohol as a risk factor for cancer. Most participants (68-72%) supported policies preventing underage internet users from exposure to alcohol advertising, and banning alcohol sponsorship of underage music and sporting events. Fiscal policies and restrictions on the number of alcohol outlets were the least supported policies (<40% support). Compared with 2013, participants in 2016 and 2019 were less likely to support policies increasing price, applying a volumetric tax and reducing the number of alcohol outlets. In 2019, more than 55% of respondents were aware that alcohol was a cancer risk factor, and knowledge of that relationship was associated with an increased likelihood of support for alcohol policies. Support was greatest for alcohol harm-reduction policies that had less impact on an individual's drinking. Overall, support for alcohol policies in NSW is not increasing. Initiatives to raise awareness about the health consequences of alcohol use, together with effective alcohol policies, are needed to counter industry influence on decision makers and negative public discourse.

Modeling the Effect of Corporate Sponsorship on the Organizational Image of Selected Insurance Companies in Edo State, Nigeria

This study current study examines the influence of corporate sponsorship on the organizational image of selected insurance companies in Edo State, Nigeria. The study was guided by six hypotheses. The survey research design was used for the study. A sample of 385 respondents was selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. The result of the study showed that corporate sponsorship programs of the selected insurance companies influence public perception of the image of insurance companies in the area of how flexible (dynamic image), friendliness (cooperative image), as well as how organized (business-wise image) the insurance companies are. The result of this study also showed that corporate sponsorship programs influence public perception of the reputation (character image), how successful (successful image) the insurance companies are as well as how secretive (withdrawn image), or otherwise of the insurance companies studied. Based on these results, the researcher recommends, among others, that insurance companies should improve on their communication approaches to ensure that there is a high level of awareness regarding their corporate sponsorship programs.

How a Sensational Event Influences Sponsorship Effects: Applying Neuromarketing

PURPOSE Neuromarketing measures and analyzes the unconscious response of consumer brain waves to marketing stimuli in real time. This study examined how a sensational scene (accident) in a sport game influences the sponsorship effects through electroencephalography (EEG) analysis. METHODS The current study uses an experimental method. First, as an experimental stimulus, a video of F1 racing edited in a total of 9 min and 39 s was used, and an accident scene was inserted in the middle of the video. A total of 46 people participated in the experiment, and all participants watched the F1 video, including the accident scene. Participants' brain waves were observed in two prefrontal and two occipital lobes. The relationship between scene sensation and sponsorship effect was analyzed based on alpha waves and the sponsor brand recall measured by questionnaires. RESULTS First, the accident scene of the race caused the power of alpha wave to be abruptly reduced (i.e., alpha blocking). Second, the difference between the alpha power level of the group that recalled the sponsor brand and that of the group that did not recall was statistically insignificant; hence, the hypothesis was rejected. Third, the right-brain dominance (negative emotion) in the accident scene of the race was statistically insignificant; therefore, the hypothesis was rejected. Finally, the group that recalled the sponsor brand showed a left-brain dominance (positive emotion), which was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed the marketing communication and neuromarketing theories on the sponsorship effects created by stimulation, attention, and memory in a sport sponsorship setting, observing alpha blocking phenomena in a sensational scene (accidents). In addition, it was revealed that the group that watched the same accident scene relatively positively and exited remembered the sponsor brand better than the group that did not watch it. The result implied that sport fan’s personal trait (e.g., sensation seeking) to sensation in sponsorship activities affects the sponsorship effect. The results also emphasized the importance of selecting target customers of sports fans in sponsorship to maximize sponsorship effects.

Bridging the Technology Divide in the COVID-19 Era: Using Virtual Outreach to Expose Middle and High School Students to Imaging Technology.

Increasing the diversity of students choosing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields is an area of intense focus across the USA, especially in kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12)-focused pipeline programs in medical schools. A diverse STEM workforce contributes to better problem-solving and equity in health care. Two of the many major barriers for rural students are the lack of sufficient STEM role models and limited access to technology in the classroom. Medical schools often serve as an important resource for students in the local community who can easily gain access to STEM professionals and modern technology through on-campus, sponsored events and STEM outreach to the local classrooms. However, underrepresented minority (URM) students often live in socioeconomically distressed parts of rural states such as Arkansas, where access to STEM role models and technology is limited. Virtual learning in the COVID-19 era has proven that the imaging technology resources of a medical school can be harnessed to reach a wider audience, especially students living in rural areas far from the medical school campus.

Make It Count: Examining Outcomes of Activation and Advertising-Like Event Sponsorship

Empirical investigations on an effective sport event sponsorship format have remained sparse. The purpose of this research is to compare the outcomes of activation and advertising-like event sponsorship, explaining the factors that drive change in sponsor brand attitudes among event attendees. We propose that 1) activation should lead to a significantly stronger increase of sponsorship perceptions and sponsor brand attitudes than advertising-like sponsorship, 2) changes in sponsorship perceptions should influence changes in sponsor brand attitudes, and 3) self-congruity with the sponsor should play a mediator role in the relationship between consumers' sponsorship perceptions and attitudes toward sponsor. To test our assumptions, we conducted a field experiment at an international sport event with two waves of surveys (before/after the event). We compare longitudinal changes in sponsor–event fit, sponsorship authenticity, sponsor brand attitude, and self-congruity with the sponsor for two brands: one pursuing activation and the other one pursuing advertising-like sponsorship. Hypotheses were tested using paired samples t tests and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings reveal that for activating sponsor, improvements in sponsorship perceptions were significantly stronger and explained more variance in changes of sponsor brand attitudes. Self-congruity with the sponsor was a mediator between sponsorship perceptions and sponsor brand attitudes. The study contributes to event sponsorship literature by longitudinally demonstrating that activation is more effective than advertising-like sponsorship in brand promotions and highlights the mediating role of self-congruity in the relationship between sponsorship inferences and sponsor brand outcomes.

Unlocking the black box of sponsorship in participant-based sport

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to develop a more precise evaluation of sport sponsorship efficiency in participant-based sport, by investigating the specific aspects of participants' attitude and behavior toward sponsors. In more detail, this research develops a comprehensive sponsorship model in the participant sport context, integrating the following constructs: sport involvement, sincerity, social media use, beliefs about sponsorship, satisfaction with event, sponsor's image, awareness of sponsors, attitude toward sponsors, purchase and word of mouth intentions.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative method was utilized and 1,056 questionnaires were effectively collected and analyzed via SPSS and AMOS. Using structural equation modeling, this research tested a conceptual framework analyzing the role of different factors for sponsorship efficiency in a participant sport context.FindingsThe present research proposes a model of 10 variables which altogether permits a complete comprehension of how to expand the linkages among antecedents and outcomes of sport sponsorship in participant-based sports. The proposed factors assume a critical role in upgrading sponsorship effectiveness, which is reflected through a continuum of responses that regularly begins with sponsorship awareness and, at last, leads to increments in participants' purchase and word of mouth intentions regarding sponsors' products.Research limitations/implicationsVarious implications for future studies as well as strategies to boost the advantages for sponsoring firms in participant-based sports, can be drawn from the suggested model.Originality/valueUp to the present, there is a scarcity of research exploring the effectiveness of sponsorship in participant-based sports. The majority of sponsorship studies measure the impact of sponsorship on spectators, neglecting the role of participants as potential vehicles in the sport sponsorship setting. This study is the first to exploring the role of sport participants in sport sponsorship literature, provides a comprehensive framework, which can guide future studies and enhance sponsorship efficiency in a participant sport context.

Evidence for stratified conflicts of interest policies in research contexts: a methodological review

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to conduct a methodological review of research on the effects of conflicts of interest (COIs) in research contexts.DesignMethodological review.Data sourcesOvid.Eligibility criteriaStudies published between 1986...

That VIP feeling: Activation, measurement techniques and best practices in sport sponsorship

The primary goal of this research was to examine current trends in sport sponsorship, particularly in the areas of goal setting, sponsorship activation and assessment of sponsorship effectiveness. The secondary goal was to identify best practices in sport sponsorship. Sponsorship executives representing North American professional sport properties, corporate partners and third-party agencies participated in in-depth interviews. Data was content analysed to produce information in three main areas of interest: sponsorship goals, activation strategies and evaluation processes and measures. The results highlight the value of customising sponsorship agreements to fit the business goals of individual sponsors as well as the strong presence of social media in sponsorship activation strategies. Greater sponsor expectations in terms of return on investment measurement and the increased role of analytics in the evaluation of sponsorship effectiveness are also uncovered. A number of best practices in sport sponsorship, practical implications and directions for future research are discussed at the conclusion of this paper.

Participant or spectator? Comprehending the sport sponsorship process from different perspectives

PurposeDespite the fact this is already known over how sports spectators interpret sponsorship content, less is known about participants’ sentiments toward sponsors, which are sometimes crucial to the survival of participation sporting events. Various researchers have examined at how spectators recognize or recall sponsors, but very few have explored it from the viewpoint of sport participants. This research portrays a shift in focus from spectator-based to participant-based marketing by studying the differences over how participants and spectators perceive sport sponsorship, recognizing the current knowledge gap regarding the process of sponsorship in participant-based sports. Sponsorship previous research has focused on the effectiveness of sport sponsorships utilizing variables such sponsor recognition, desire to sponsors’ products and anticipated sponsorship advantages (Koronios and Dimitropoulos, 2020). The examination of sport sponsorship from the standpoint of the sport spectator is something that many of the past studies have in common. The application of past research analysing sport sponsorship from a distinct perspective: that of the sport participant, distinguishes the present study. In addition, the present study explores the distinctions in sponsorship effectiveness between spectators and participants, a topic which hasn't been addressed at before in sponsorship literature.Design/methodology/approachThis study depicts a move away from spectator-based to participant-based marketing, utilizing contemporary implicit physiological variables to measure participants’ and spectators’ awareness of and attitude toward sponsors, and it proposes a model of their purchase intentions toward real sponsors of a martial event. A total of 1,332 questionnaires were collected and analysed.FindingsFactors such as sport involvement, social media use, sincerity and beliefs of sponsorship were found to have a significant effect on purchase intention of spectators and participants. And crucial differences in the significance of various antecedent factors between spectators and participants were detected in the formation of positive purchase and word-of-mouth intentions.Originality/valueThis paper gives prominence to contemporary methodological advances in the field of implicit social cognition and their relevance to sponsorship. This is the first sponsorship research which examines the effectiveness of sponsorship variables under the implicit–explicit variables dichotomy.

The Effect of Organizer-Sponsor Congruence on Sponsor Credibility and the Moderating Role of Involvement

Sports sponsorship has been increasingly used as a marketing tool and as a financial support for the organization of sporting events. The aim of this study was to investigate whether consumer involvement with the brand, the product and the sporting event moderates the organizer-sponsor congruence, and enhances the perceived sponsor credibility. The sample consisted of 700 runners who participated in three street racing events. Data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling. The congruence between the brand and the event sponsorship did not affect the consumer’s perception of the sponsor’s credibility. The perceived sponsor credibility was enhanced by the congruence between the sponsor's product and the sponsorship, and by the consumer's involvement in the sporting event. The empirical evidence of the hypothetical relationships confirmed in this research sheds light on the mechanisms by which sponsorship leads to a beneficial consumer response.

Creating Brand Experiences Through Activational Sponsorship Leverage

A commonly accepted notion is that companies should leverage their event sponsorships with promotional and communication activities beyond the sponsorship contract. Activational sponsorship leverage is an experiential marketing strategy that encourages consumers to engage actively in brandrelated activities. The main purpose of this article is to investigate how level of consumer participation in brand-related activities at a sponsored event can improve brand evaluations by creating brand experiences. The article presents findings from a field quasiexperiment conducted at a sponsored sporting event, in which three levels of consumer participation with the sponsoring brand (active, passive, or no participation) were examined. Drawing on brand experience theory, the main prediction is that active participation represents the highest level of consumer brand engagement, and therefore should have the greatest potential for creating impactful brand experiences. The study provides valuable information for brand managers who seek to create memorable brand experiences through sponsorship-linked brand communication and activities.

Image congruity in the love triangle among mega sport event organizer, sponsor, and consumers: the moderating effects of product involvement and consumer awareness

ABSTRACT Research question This research extends previous studies on sponsor-event congruity by introducing a larger framework based on triadic relationships among mega sport event organizer (MSEO), sponsor, and consumers. It also revisits the relationships among congruity, product involvement, and consumer awareness of the sponsorship. Research methods Data collected from American respondents (n = 631) were used to study the relationships between a MSEO, the International Olympic Committee, two of its sponsors, Coca-Cola and Airbnb, and their consumers. Results and findings Findings reveal that consumer–brand and sponsor-MSEO congruity influence affective commitment towards the brands. Yet, to interpret the influence of sponsor-MSEO congruity, it is preferable to use values over brand personality. Additionally, the model should be moderated by product involvement and consumer awareness. Implications Consumer–brand congruity and sponsor MSEO congruity are two potent and complementary constructs that should be used to listen to the consumer and to refine brand positioning. Additionally, triadic and dyadic (partial) models provide complementary results and should be used jointly.

Team identification and sponsors’ altruistic motives on the effectiveness of professional soccer sponsorship

ABSTRACT Research question: In a world where financial investment in sports sponsorship is at risk of committing corporate irresponsibility, how do professional sports team sponsors’ attribute altruistic motives and favorable attitudes towards the fans influence purchasing with decisions? Research methods: For this purpose, a sample of 2,647 fans from two of Portugal's most successful soccer teams completed a questionnaire. A Structural Equation Modelling analysis was carried out to test the model and the hypotheses. Results and Findings: Despite the highly commercial context, the high investments made by the sponsors are seen as altruistic by the fans most identified with the sports team. The model explained 46% of attitudes towards sponsors, but the most relevant result in sponsorship effectiveness was the strong mediating role played by the sponsors’ altruistic motives. Implications: This study extends previous research by providing a unique conceptual framework that highlights the importance of understanding how fans supported by the sponsor's altruistic motives view the sponsor's brand.

Adults’ Exposure to Unhealthy Food and Beverage Marketing: A Multi-Country Study in Australia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States

BackgroundFood marketing increases product appeal, purchasing, and consumption, using diverse strategies and locations to reach consumers. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine differences in adults’ self-reported exposure to various marketing strategies (brand and licensed characters, celebrities, and sponsorship of sports and cultural events) and locations (television, radio, and digital media) across 5 countries: Australia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. MethodsWe analyzed cross-sectional survey data on self-reported exposure to food marketing strategies and locations collected in 2018 by the International Food Policy Study. Participants (n = 21,678) aged ≥18 years completed an online survey. Exposures to unhealthy food marketing strategies and locations in the prior 30 days were self-reported. Regression models examined differences in marketing exposure and locations across countries. ResultsThe average number of unhealthy food marketing strategies to which participants reported being exposed ranged from 0.5 in the United Kingdom to 2.3 in Mexico. Self-reported exposure to strategies across all countries was highest for brand characters (32%), followed by licensed characters (22%). In total, the reported mean exposure of marketing locations was 1.6 in the prior month. Television was the most prevalent location (44%), followed by digital marketing (32%). Adjusted models indicated that the odds of reporting exposure to marketing strategies and marketing locations were higher for Mexico compared to the rest of the countries. ConclusionsAdults report a variety of exposures to unhealthy food marketing in all countries, but exposure was highest in Mexico. Special attention should be paid to regulating marketing strategies, such as brand characters and licensed characters, and locations, such as television and digital marketing.

Impact of event sponsorship in purchasing behavior of consumers: A Comparative Study in the Local Conglomerate Companies of Bangladesh

Impact of event sponsorship in purchasing behavior of consumers: A Comparative Study in the Local Conglomerate Companies of Bangladesh

An Examination of Sponsor Outcomes at Different Tiers of IndyCar Sponsorship

Abstract: While frequently examined in events and service research, satisfaction has received little examination in the context of sponsorship. Given the shared characteristics of both service and sport-derived products, this study, which was framed by the theory of planned behavior, aimed to examine the influence of event satisfaction, motorsport involvement, and sponsor-event fit on both sponsor image and behavioral intentions for a title sponsor of an IndyCar event. In addition, the study explored the influence of satisfaction and motorsport involvement on sponsor awareness and image for official event sponsors. The results indicated that the measured constructs generally exhibited similar relationships with title and official sponsors and that there was no significant relationship between satisfaction and behavioral intention. Thus, an individual’s preconceptions of an event may be more important than their event experiences in developing behavioral intentions. Further implications for future strategy for IndyCar sponsors and event organizers are also discussed.