Sports Fans Research Articles

Child images affect sports fans' prosociality and aggression

This study explores the effect of child images in advertisements on financial support provided by team fans -including the intention to buy licensed club products- and reported aggression toward rival team fans. An online experiment was conducted on Turkey's three largest rival club fans (Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş). Used visual materials were derived from Football (Study 1) and Basketball (Study 2). Fans (N = 496) exposed to the appeals with child images showed a higher intention to support their team financially and buy licensed club products; however, the stated aggression toward rival club fans did not differ. A follow-up experimental study (N = 132) was conducted on Fenerbahçe fans to retest this insignificant effect, in which fans’ state aggression is increased through a motivation video. It is concluded that this approach was only effective on aggression for the fans whose team identification was significantly higher. Findings are discussed within the kin selection theory and kindchenschema cuteness concept.

How best to measure connection to a team: team identification, brand attitude/loyalty, consumer lifestyle or interest level?

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare four different consumer pathway models based on identity theory, attitude/loyalty theory, lifestyle theory and hierarchy of effects theory, each with associated instruments measuring connection to the team.Design/methodology/approachThe authors did a two-study analysis, first collecting data from people aware of an NFL team (N = 218) and then an MLS team (N = 209) to determine which connection item performed better.FindingsThe authors found that the Consumer Pathway for Sport Fandom based on the hierarchy of effects theory and its associated interest measurement item performed better than the other three frameworks and items. The Interest item shared the most variance with games attended, games intending to attend, games watched via media and games intending to watch via media.Originality/valueThe Consumer Pathway for Sport Fandom represents the entire consumer spectrum from non-aware consumers all the way up to die-hard sports fans. This pathway will allow sport marketers to track their consumers from initial awareness of the product or service all the way through the brand relationship to ultimate loyalty.

INVESTIGATION OF THE ATTITUDES OF USERS OF SPORTS TOURISM ON MOUNTAIN GOČ

In this paper, the authors analyze and investigate the relevant facts of the organization and management of sports and recreational tourism in the Goč valley. Today's tourists expect a lot from tourist destinations. So today's tourists are ready to pay more. For this reason, the marketing role must be crucial for sports tourism. Mount Goč in the context of sports tourism explores the potential of Mount Goč as a destination for sports tourism. Goč mountain, located in Serbia, offers a variety of natural beauties and sports opportunities that attract lovers of active vacations. The paper analyzes the geographical location of the mountain and its accessibility, and highlights the proximity of major cities and roads as key advantages for the development of sports tourism based on the opinions of users. The mountain offers various terrains for sports activities, including hiking, cycling, skiing and snowboarding, as well as opportunities for adventure sports such as paragliding and mountain biking. Also, the paper explores the existing sports infrastructure on Goč, including tracks, sports fields and accommodation facilities. The importance of further infrastructure development for attracting sports enthusiasts and tourists is emphasized. Then the competition and demand for sports activities on Mount Goč are analyzed, including a comparison with other mountain destinations in the region. Marketing strategies and promotion of the mountain as a destination for sports tourism are also discussed. Based on all of the above, the paper concludes that Mount Goč has significant potential for the development of sports tourism, but that it is necessary to continuously invest in infrastructure and promotion in order to attract sports fans and tourists and stimulate the economic sustainability of tourism. region through this type of tourism.

Black U.S. Military Affiliated Perspectives on Sport Media's Coverage of Racial Representation and Athlete Activism

Black U.S. military affiliated sport fans hold a unique place in society, as their multiple identities (i.e., racial and career) may possess conflicting elements. Militarism preaches nationalism, meritocracy, and bootstrapism, whereas Black sport activism questions if these “American” values extend to people of color. The current study interviewed Black military affiliated individuals ( N = 10) to understand their perceptions on nationalism and racism within the landscape of contemporary sport activism. The protests initiated by Colin Kaepernick of the National Football League, who took a knee during the pregame national anthem, was a focal point for discussion with the participants. Three main themes were identified in the interviews: (a) protectors of the first amendment, (b) the “right” and “wrong” way to protest, and (c) new racism and color blindness in sport. This study allows a group that is not often studied to voice their perceptions of nationalism and racism in the context of sport activism.

Revolutionizing Fan Engagement: Adopting Trends and Technologies in The Vibrant Indian Sports Landscape

The Indian sports industry is undergoing a substantial transformation in fan engagement, driven by evolving trends and technological innovations. This study comprehensively analyses the current state, methodologies, and implications of fan engagement within the Indian sports sector. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable shift in traditional fan behaviour, with a decline in physical gatherings and a surge in alternative forms of participation such as co-watching, online discussions, sports betting, and content sharing. The research employs a multifaceted methodology, combining data collection, surveys, and trend analysis. It explores the Impact of cutting-edge technologies like Over-the-Top (OTT) media services, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), blockchain technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Virtual Reality (VR) on reshaping fan engagement. The dynamic and tech-driven nature of the Indian sports industry necessitates a holistic understanding of contemporary fan engagement strategies. This study aims to analyze the current landscape of fan engagement in Indian sports, explore methodologies employed, and assess the Impact of technological innovations on fan behaviour. Quantitative methods like data collection through surveys have been employed to gain insights into emerging trends and their influence on fan engagement. Survey data reveals the enduring dominance of cricket (46%) and the growing prominence of football (29%) among Indian sports fans. Notably, there is significant trust (46%) in in-game analysis technologies, indicating fans' readiness to embrace technological enhancements. While live stadium experiences remain popular, the survey underscores the role of digital platforms, with 57% preferring Hotstar for sports content. The rising popularity of fantasy league apps and the recognition of social media's Impact on player performance (64%) present opportunities for digital engagement. The study concludes by offering recommendations for businesses and stakeholders to adapt to the changing landscape. It underscores the importance of integrating innovative technologies, fostering online fan communities, and tailoring content and experiences to cater to the evolving expectations of Indian sports enthusiasts.

A Note on the Preferences of Sports Fans: Partisanship Versus Uncertainty of Outcome

Since its inception, a core principle of sports economics has been the claim that fans desire balanced competition—the so-called Uncertainty of Outcome Hypothesis (UOH). While this idea has intuitive appeal, it runs counter to the equally obvious importance of partisanship in shaping fan interest in sporting contests. The absence of a well-accepted theoretical basis for the UOH, coupled with a lack of compelling empirical evidence in support of it, suggests important gaps in the literature. This paper takes a step toward addressing the former need by offering a contest utility function, based on standard Cobb-Douglas preferences, which embodies both partisanship and a demand for competitive balance. The model is used to derive a willingness-to-pay function for game tickets and an expression for aggregate attendance. Findings from the empirical literature are discussed in light of the analysis.

Effects of sports gambling on young fans’ attitudes and behaviors in Hong Kong

Sports gambling has become closely intertwined with sports. However, the effect of sports gambling on young adults have not been extensively investigated, even if it is expected that participating in sports gambling could influence young adults' attitudes and behaviors. Therefore, the purposes of the current study were a) to investigate the effects of sports gambling on young adults’ attitudes and behaviors and b) to evaluate the quality of life of young adults in Hong Kong. A total of 160 young adults (80 sports gamblers and 80 non-gamblers) in Hong Kong participated in the survey. The results of t-tests revealed the differences between sports gamblers and non-gamblers. Specifically, non-gamblers showed higher levels of sports fan identification, quality of life, BIRGing behaviors, prosocial behaviors, performance tolerance, and purchasing intention than sports gamblers, whereas sports gamblers had higher level of positive affect on sports spectating. Furthermore, the results of the multiple regressions indicated that sports fan identification and positive affect influenced non-gamblers’ purchasing intention, while only sports fan identification had an impact on sports gamblers’ purchasing intention. These results provided an empirical conformation of the effect of sports gambling on sports fan attitudes and behaviors, which contribute to our understanding of the destructive impact of sports gambling on sports fan experience.

The Impact of Artistic Expression on Sports Fan Engagement

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of artistic expression on sports fanengagement.Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondarydata or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collectingdata from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to fieldresearch, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, thestudy relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easilyaccessed through the online journals and library.Findings: The findings revealed that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to theimpact of artistic expression on sports fan engagement. Preliminary empirical review revealed thatArtistic expression serves as a powerful vehicle through which fans communicate their passion,identity, and loyalty. The studies presented have shown that exposure to and participation in artisticexpressions, such as fan art, music, and literature, contribute to increased emotional engagement, asense of belonging to a fan community, and a deeper connection with sports entities. Furthermore,these artistic expressions often serve as cultural symbols, reinforcing fan identities and creating aunique sense of belonging.Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Identity theory, AffectiveDisposition theory and the Cultural Consumption theory may be used to anchor future studies on theimpact of artistic expression. The study recommended for fostering of fan art initiatives, integratingartistic expressions into fan engagement strategies, collaborating with publishers, investigating indance and choreography, supporting online fan communities, capturing and sharing visual stories andfacilitating musical expressions among others. Incorporating these recommendations into fanengagement strategies can create a more vibrant and emotionally connected fan base, ultimatelybenefiting sports organizations and enhancing the overall fan experience.

Fangirl or Qualified Fan: Identity Construction of Female Chinese Soccer Fans

Research on sports fans has increased in line with Chinas ambition to become a leading sports nation. However, studies regarding female Chinese soccer fans are still insufficient. Based on semi-structured interviews with Chinese female soccer fans and cyber ethnography, findings suggest that apart from similar identity construction practices to male fans, female fans show typical motivations and behaviors in the establishment of fan identity. This is mainly about emphasis and display of emotions, which reflect traits of female gender roles. Because of the social expectation that women play an expressive role when female fans enter the soccer field, which is dominated by instrumentality and masculinity, they may face mild or severe rejection. As a result, their identity as soccer fans may also be threatened. The study concludes that female fans are able to construct their identity in unique ways and that their criteria for becoming qualified fans are influenced by internalized gender role norms.

Does pro-environmental attitude predicts pro-environmental behavior? Comparing sustainability connection in emotional and cognitive environments among football fans and university students

Environmental sustainability is an imperative topic in contemporary business-related research, aiming to understand and predict how individuals' environmentally friendly behaviors can be encouraged. This research aims to empirically examine the relationship between individuals' pro-environmental attitude and pro-environmental behavior; and to compare two groups of individuals that encompass emotional and cognitive links to environmental sustainability: emotionally involved sport fans and socially conscious university students. Two studies, involving more than 1400 respondents, were conducted. Study 1 uses structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the relationship between consumers' environmental attitudes and environmental behaviors. Study 2 uses SEM multigroup analysis to compare the attitudes and behaviors of sport fans and university students. The results showed that participants’ pro-environmental attitude had a positive and significant effect on pro-environmental behavior. The type of consumer plays an important role in strengthening the relationship between pro-environmental attitude and pro-environmental behavior. Despite the higher average levels of pro-environmental attitude and pro-environment behavior evidenced by the sport fans, the influence of attitude on behavior is higher on socially conscious students, the group with a more cognitive and intrinsic link with the natural environment and sustainability initiatives. Despite the positive link attitudes-behaviors, empirical insights suggest that the connection between sport fans and the club is vital to reinforce the commitment with a stronger match between attitudes and behaviors. The findings also have implications for practitioners and policymakers in optimizing their strategies to encourage effective pro-environmental actions.

The Birth and Development of Sports Video Games From the 1950s to the Early 1980s

This article provides an overview of the origins and early development of sports video games. The first generation of sports video games were developed by scientists in laboratories for academic purposes. Together with the rise of microcomputers and the widespread adoption of television (TV) sets, commercial video games began to emerge in the early 1970s. Like their laboratory predecessors, most of the first-generation commercial games were sports-themed and primarily designed as a platform for competition between players. In the second half of the 1970s, ball-and-paddle-based games began to be replaced by more sophisticated games adopting the rules and actions of real-life sports. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, intense competition between video game companies gave birth to many innovative titles, with various sports disciplines adapted into games. Most of the sports games created in this period were based on competitive sports including American football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and tennis, as well as recreational sports like bowling, pool, and darts, many of them long popular in Western Europe and North America, some with a huge fan base in Japan. They were clearly produced to cater to the needs of gamers and sports fans in the world’s three major TV, personal computer, video game, and sports markets at the time.

Plackett–Luce modeling with trajectory models for measuring athlete strength

Abstract It is often the goal of sports analysts, coaches, and fans to predict athlete performance over time. Models such as Bradley–Terry and Plackett–Luce measure athlete skill based on results of competitions over time, but have limited predictive strength without making assumptions about the nature of the evolution of athletic skill. Growth curves are often applied in the context of sports to predict future ability, but these curves are too simple to account for complex career trajectories. We propose a non-linear, mixed-effects trajectory to model the ratings as a function of time and other athlete-specific covariates. The mixture of trajectories allows for flexibility in the estimated shape of career trajectories between athletes as well as between sports. We use the fitted trajectories to make predictions of an athlete’s career trajectory through a model of how athlete performance progresses over time in a multi-competitor scenario as an extension to the Plackett–Luce model. We show how this model is useful for predicting the outcome of women’s luge races, as well as show how we can use the model to compare athletes to one another by clustering career trajectories.

Why do fans go to football games? A discrete choice analysis of ticket buyers' preferences

PurposeTicket sales are an essential source of income for football clubs and federations. Analyzing the determinants of fans' willingness-to-pay for tickets is therefore an important exercise. By knowing the match- and fan-related characteristics that influence how much a fan wants to pay for a ticket, as well as to what extent, football clubs and federations can modify their ticket offering and targeting in order to optimize this revenue stream.Design/methodology/approachUsing a detailed discrete choice experiment, based on McFadden's random utility theory, this paper formulates a Bayesian hierarchical multinomial logit model. Such models are very common in the discrete choice modeling literature. The analysis identifies to what extent match and personal attributes influence fans' willingness-to-pay for games of the Belgian men's and women's football national teams.FindingsThe results show that the strength of the opponent, the type of competition, the location of the seats in the stadium, the day and kick-off time of the match and the ticket price exert an influence on the choice of the respondent. Fans are attracted most by competitive games against strong opponents. They prefer to sit along the sideline, and they have clear preferences for specific kick-off days and times. The authors also find substantial variation between socio-demographic groups, defined in terms of factors such as age, gender and family composition.Practical implicationsThe authors use the results to estimate the willingness-to-pay for match tickets for different socio-demographic groups. Their findings are useful for football clubs and federations interested in optimizing the prices of their match tickets.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, no stated preference methods, such as discrete choice analysis, have been used to analyze the willingness-to-pay of sports fans. The advantage of discrete choice analysis is that options and variations in tickets that are not yet available in practice can be studied, allowing football organizations to increase revenues from new ticketing instruments.

Examining the Impact of Sports Sponsorship on Fan Attitude and Purchase Intentions towards Sponsors' Products in Professional Football: A Study of the Ghanaian Fan Base

This paper investigates the mediating role of fans' attitudes in the relationship between sports sponsorship and the purchase intention of Ghanaian football fans. Survey data were collected from 398 official supporter groups of Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC (Circles) and Accra Hearts of Oak SC (Chapters) using a purposive sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was utilized to gather the data. The study employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to validate the model. The results indicate that sponsorship significantly influences purchase intention and fans' attitudes. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that fan attitude mediates the relationship between sponsorship and purchase intention. These findings suggest that sponsorship plays a significant role in improving the purchase intention of football fans, and the impact of sponsorship on purchase intention is strengthened by fans' attitudes. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the complex dynamics between sponsorship, fans' attitude, and purchasing intention, particularly in the context of Ghanaian football fans. While the study provides useful findings for industrial players and practitioners, it is essential to acknowledge that this study relied on cross-sectional survey data, which limits our ability to establish causal relationships. Additionally, the current study focused specifically on soccer fans of only two Clubs in Ghana, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings to fans of other teams or sports, limiting the applicability of the study's results to a broader context.

Hail to thee, my sports team brand: investigating the drivers of eFANgelism among fans of selected sports teams in the English Premier League (EPL)

Sports fans participate in supporting sports teams by demonstrating various attitudinal behaviors such as loyalty, purchase intention, and stadium attendance. However, although the literature indicates that sports fans who are fanatics can demonstrate advanced attitudinal behavior such as eFANgelism, very little has been done on the drivers of this advanced attitudinal behavior. This study utilized social identity theory to create a conceptual model which looked at how fan identification and fan community identification can be used to promote eFANgelism via perceived brand sacredness among sports fans in Tanzania. The purpose of the study was to provide insights into factors that can improve positive brand promotion among sports fans in Tanzania. Partial least square-structural equation modeling was used to analyze data collected from 322 sports fans of selected sports teams in the English Premier League. The findings indicate that fan identification and fan community identification are important drivers of eFANgelism via perceived brand sacredness. The study recommends that sports team managers should view sports fans as valuable assets that can help create and maintain a competitive advantage for their teams. In addition, sports managers can consider sports fans as an engine toward building the corporate reputation of sports organizations.

Promoting men's health through sports clubs: a rapid realist review

Abstract Background Traditional health promotion interventions have failed to engage men. Sports clubs offer male-friendly health promotion settings for men, but little is known about implementable intervention strategies and subsequent effects. This rapid realist review (RRR) aims to identify context, mechanisms and effects of health promotion interventions targeting men by or in collaboration with sports clubs. Methods The RRR methodology was developed in collaboration with a panel of Danish practice and policy representatives and international academics. A systematic literature search was conducted in February 2023 for studies published after 2013 in MEDLINE, Embase, and SportDiscus databases and through grey literature sources. Included studies: 1) targeted men aged 18+ years, 2) reported health promotion outcomes, and 3) were delivered primarily by or in collaboration with sports clubs. Results Fifty-two studies were included. Preliminary analyses indicate that interventions delivered through sports clubs show promise for engaging men with high cardiometabolic risk and producing favorable health outcomes. Preliminary findings from the realist synthesis show that if men felt a strong attachment to the sports club (context), it resonated with their feelings of social identity which outweighed a former reluctance to attend health programs (mechanism), and thus increased the men's likelihood for program engagement and health behavior change (outcome). Conclusions Our study indicates that men's health promotion through sports clubs is emergent. While great strides have been made to increase men's involvement in health promoting activities by delivering interventions through sports clubs, research has predominantly focused on select behaviours (e.g., physical activity), sub-groups (e.g., sports fans) and predominantly Caucasian, overweight, middle-aged men.

Sport, the arts, and fans' loyalty: the role of color for sport fans.

Sport fandom has attracted far-ranging research attention. Fans' commitment, loyalty, and sense of affinity are abundantly expressed in a long list of life practices. Precisely in this context, the color that identifies each sports team has also become an important element of the game but also a crucial component of fans' identities. The present article focuses on the esthetics of team uniform colors and identifies the artistic roles they fill. Among other things, the article addresses the important role of color, for example in identifying and distinguishing figures on the pitch from the background by creating clear borders between the elements on the pitch that compete for fans' attention; in the extension of fans' emotions through the connection between team and color; in creating the opportunity for spectators to participate fully in creating the esthetic experience on the field through the intensive use of team colors; and in enhancing a team's halo effect through the association of the team with its colors. On a deeper level, the article states that in an era of commercialized sports, the team color remains the clear and consistent symbol of the team that preserves the identity of the fans.

Online sports fans communities: humor, trivial knowledge, and anti-modern tendencies.

Recent technical developments and the widespread use of social networks have led to the emergence of a variety of online communities built around common interests. Among these virtual communities, one notable category revolves around sports fans. This conceptual article uses several examples of online sports fan communities in Israel to analyze their core elements. Within this context, the article focuses on the significance of humor, trivial knowledge, and counter-modern concepts as the key elements fostering unity among fans. Humor serves as a common thread that encourages interactions, also providing a platform for fans to showcase their niche knowledge, symbolizing their dedication to fan culture. Meanwhile, the prevalence of counter-modern inclinations within these communities highlights the fans' constant devotion to the sport, demonstrating a profound loyalty. Collectively, these elements signify a shift from supporting specific teams to becoming keen fans of the broader sporting domain.

Reflexive meanings of global and local sports culture: Chinese female sports fandom in the context of glocalization

This article aims to explore the appreciation of transnational European football clubs by Chinese female sports fans and demonstrate the intersections between the global discourses of sport and the local patriarchal practices of Chinese society as they affect middle-class, educated Chinese women. By applying glocalization theories, feminization of sports fandom theories and qualitative research methods, the findings indicate that Chinese female sports fans construct reflexive meanings of global and local sports culture. The focus of this reflexivity centres on the confrontation of local nationalist patriarchy and its interplay with global neoliberal patriarchy, both of which Chinese female fans recognize as domains necessitating active resistance. Although the globalization of sports may marginalize women in sports fandom from the top down, Chinese women actively respond to and challenge the intersecting power structures by imbuing football culture with reflexive meanings.

Passionate hearts, torn loyalties: navigating the interplay between fandom and romance.

The current study presents a thorough investigation of the attitudes and emotions expressed by the spouses and girlfriends of sports fans within the context of their long-term relationships. Its primary objective is to explore the potential ramifications that surface when individuals become deeply invested in a competitive sport, demonstrating intense emotional connections, broad knowledge, unwavering loyalty, and active engagement in fan-related activities. The research methodology applied in this study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with a sample of twelve spouses and girlfriends of fans. The principal findings elucidate four distinct themes that shed light on the intersection of fandom and romantic relationships. These themes include: "that's what I signed up for"; "fandom as a gendered activity"; "the good, the bad, and the ugly"; and "sports fandom as an addiction." The study concludes by highlighting the crucial cultural context at work. The social criticism expressed by the interviewees toward non-traditional gender behaviors displayed by their partners serves as a cautionary message. These criticisms aim to preserve and uphold male dominance in sports, thereby reinforcing the notion of their unquestioned supremacy. Consequently, we argue that, within this context, latent aggressive behavior in men is perceived as a strategy to maintain their monopolistic control over sports domains.