Those Who Rarely Attend Alone

2018 ◽  
pp. 71-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Hedlund ◽  
Rui Biscaia ◽  
Maria do Carmo Leal
Keyword(s):  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Social Recognition ◽  
Structural Testing ◽  
American Football ◽  
Division I ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Sports Fans ◽  
Sport Fans ◽  
Fan Behavior ◽  
Sport Fan

Sport fans rarely attend sporting events alone. While traditional consumer and sport fan behavior research frequently segmented fans based on demographic characteristics, recent advances in understanding how sport fans co-create and co-consume sporting events provides substantial evidence that sports fans should be examined as tribal groups. In this chapter, seven dimensions of sport fan tribalism are proposed and tested (membership; geographic sense of community; social recognition; shared rivalry; and shared knowledge of symbols, rituals and traditions, and people) with samples from top-level American college football (Division I American football) and the top level of professional Portuguese soccer (Primeira Liga). The results provide reliability and validity evidence in support of the seven-dimension scale. In addition, the structural testing of the scale highlights differences between tribal fans and their teams (relative to other teams) in terms of five behavioral intentions and two commitment- related outcome variables. The implications of labeling sports fans at tribal, the use of the seven-dimension scale and the structural results are all discussed.

Those Who Rarely Attend Alone

2018 ◽  
pp. 386-416
Author(s):  
David P. Hedlund ◽  
Rui Biscaia ◽  
Maria do Carmo Leal
Keyword(s):  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Social Recognition ◽  
Structural Testing ◽  
American Football ◽  
Division I ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Sports Fans ◽  
Sport Fans ◽  
Fan Behavior ◽  
Sport Fan

Sport fans rarely attend sporting events alone. While traditional consumer and sport fan behavior research frequently segmented fans based on demographic characteristics, recent advances in understanding how sport fans co-create and co-consume sporting events provides substantial evidence that sports fans should be examined as tribal groups. In this chapter, seven dimensions of sport fan tribalism are proposed and tested (membership; geographic sense of community; social recognition; shared rivalry; and shared knowledge of symbols, rituals and traditions, and people) with samples from top-level American college football (Division I American football) and the top level of professional Portuguese soccer (Primeira Liga). The results provide reliability and validity evidence in support of the seven-dimension scale. In addition, the structural testing of the scale highlights differences between tribal fans and their teams (relative to other teams) in terms of five behavioral intentions and two commitment- related outcome variables. The implications of labeling sports fans at tribal, the use of the seven-dimension scale and the structural results are all discussed.

Classifying Sport Consumers

2020 ◽  
pp. 323-356
Author(s):  
David P. Hedlund ◽  
Rui Biscaia ◽  
Maria do Carmo Leal
Keyword(s):  
Sense Of Community ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Social Recognition ◽  
Shared Knowledge ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Sports Fans ◽  
Cluster Analyses ◽  
Sport Fans ◽  
Fan Behavior ◽  
Sport Fan

Sport fans rarely attend sporting events alone. While traditional consumer and sport fan behavior research often examines fans based on demographic characteristics, recent advances in understanding how sport fans co-create and co-consume sporting events provides substantial evidence that sports fans should be examined as tribal groups. Tribal sport fan groups can be identified based on seven dimensions, including membership; geographic sense of community; social recognition; shared rivalry; and shared knowledge of symbols, rituals and traditions, and people. In this research, these seven dimensions are used to classify sport fans (n=1505) through hierarchical and k-cluster analyses. The results of the cluster analyses using the seven dimensions suggest six unique clusters, labelled as (1) casual fans, (2) moderate remote fans, (3) moderate local fans, (4) local developing tribal fans, (5) remote tribal fans, and (6) tribal fans. A discussion of these six fan groups and the implications regarding associations with demographics and other important variables are provided.

Classifying Sport Consumers

2021 ◽  
pp. 254-287
Author(s):  
David P. Hedlund ◽  
Rui Biscaia ◽  
Maria do Carmo Leal
Keyword(s):  
Sense Of Community ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Social Recognition ◽  
Shared Knowledge ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Sports Fans ◽  
Cluster Analyses ◽  
Sport Fans ◽  
Fan Behavior ◽  
Sport Fan

Sport fans rarely attend sporting events alone. While traditional consumer and sport fan behavior research often examines fans based on demographic characteristics, recent advances in understanding how sport fans co-create and co-consume sporting events provides substantial evidence that sports fans should be examined as tribal groups. Tribal sport fan groups can be identified based on seven dimensions, including membership; geographic sense of community; social recognition; shared rivalry; and shared knowledge of symbols, rituals and traditions, and people. In this research, these seven dimensions are used to classify sport fans (n=1505) through hierarchical and k-cluster analyses. The results of the cluster analyses using the seven dimensions suggest six unique clusters, labelled as (1) casual fans, (2) moderate remote fans, (3) moderate local fans, (4) local developing tribal fans, (5) remote tribal fans, and (6) tribal fans. A discussion of these six fan groups and the implications regarding associations with demographics and other important variables are provided.

A Magic “Bullet”: Exploring Sport Fan Usage of On-Screen, Ephemeral Posts During Live Stream Sessions

2021 ◽  
pp. 216747952110389
Author(s):  
Bo Li ◽  
Michael L. Naraine ◽  
Liang Zhao ◽  
Chenyang Li
Keyword(s):  
Magic Bullet ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sports Fans ◽  
Sport Fans ◽  
Sports Events ◽  
Critical Commentary ◽  
Information Interaction ◽  
Sport Fan ◽  
Over The Top ◽  
Practical Implications

The bullet-screen function is an augmented comment feature that has been adopted by the majority of Over-the-Top (OTT) services to foster users’ interaction and watching experience. This feature empowers sports customers to post and view numerous, short, and fast-moving comments that overlap over the screen while watching live stream sports events in real time. This research aims to investigate how sports fans embrace the bullet-screen feature while watching live stream sports. Through a combination of thematic analyzing bullet-screen comments from a National Basketball Association Finals game, and semi-structured interviews among bullet-screen users ( N = 15), the results indicate that sport fans’ bullet-screen messages could be classified into five categories: critical commentary, socialization, supportive interactions, random messages, and trash talk. Four motives for sports fans to engage with bullet-screen posting were identified: entertainment, gathering information, interaction, and finding belonging. The study also showed that the inappropriateness of comments and too much overlay on the screen could prevent sports fans from utilizing the service. Theoretical and practical implications have also been discussed.

Predicting Fan Behavior Through Egocentric Network Analysis: Examining Season-Ticket Holder Renewal

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-228
Author(s):  
Matthew Katz ◽  
Bob Heere ◽  
E. Nicole Melton
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
College Football ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Season Ticket ◽  
Sport Fans ◽  
Fan Behavior ◽  
Past Behavior ◽  
Sport Fan ◽  
Egocentric Network

The purpose of this study is to utilize egocentric network analysis to predict repurchase behaviors for college football season-ticket holders. Using a research approach grounded in network theory, we included the relational and behavioral characteristics of sport fans in a binomial regression model to predict renewal decisions among college football season-ticket holders. More specifically, we developed a model that incorporates the egocentric network variables, past behavior, and behavioral intentions to empirically test which consumer characteristics predict future behavior. Building on previous research emphasizing the role of socializing agents and social connections in sport fan consumption, through the use of egocentric network analysis, we examined the effects of social structure and social context on repurchasing decisions. Moreover, the present study is positioned within the larger discourse on season-ticket holders, as we aimed to add a network theory perspective to the existing research on season-ticket holder churn and renewal.

Interaction Ritual Theory and Sports Fans: Emotion, Symbols, and Solidarity

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marci D. Cottingham
Keyword(s):  
Participant Observation ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Ir Theory ◽  
Sports Fans ◽  
Interaction Ritual ◽  
Sport Fans ◽  
Fan Behavior ◽  
Significant Life

The study of sport spectatorship has an increasing focus on the importance of fandom beyond fan violence. Fundamental to understanding fan behavior are the meaningful rituals and emotions experienced by fans. In this paper, I use the theoretical work of Randall Collins to examine the ritualistic outcomes of collective effervescence, emotional energy, and group symbols and solidarity among sport fans. I illustrate these concepts using case study data from participant observation of fans of a U.S. football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and content analysis of news articles. I extend Collins’ interaction ritual (IR) theory by taking the group as the unit of analysis and analyzing group solidarity beyond situational interactions and typical sport settings, including the significant life events of weddings and funerals. While critiquing Collins’ (2004) a priori portrayal of sports fans, the analysis advances IR theory, improving its utility for understanding sports fan behavior.

The Role of Sport Fan Curiosity: A New Conceptual Approach to the Understanding of Sport Fan Behavior

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seong-Hee Park ◽  
Daniel Mahony ◽  
Yu Kyoum Kim
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Present Review ◽  
Conceptual Approach ◽  
Sport Fans ◽  
Fan Behavior ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Sport Fan ◽  
Social And Cultural Factors ◽  
Shed Light

Most literature on sport fan behaviors has focused on highly identified or loyal sport fans. While the literature has found that factors influencing current sport fans and their behaviors are related to, and based on, various psychological, social, and cultural factors, only a limited number of studies have investigated what factors initially attract individuals to consume sport. Curiosity has been found to be one of the crucial motivators that initially influence human exploratory behaviors in many domains. Using theories of curiosity, the present review aims to shed light on the role of curiosity in explaining various sport fan behaviors.

“Arguably the Greatest”: Sport Fans and Communities at Work on Wikipedia

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan M. Ferriter
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Statistical Information ◽  
Sports Fans ◽  
Sport Fans ◽  
Socially Constructed ◽  
Production Processes ◽  
Sport Fan

This article explores the socially constructed space of Wikipedia and how the process and structure of Wikipedia enable it to act both as a vehicle for communication between sport fans and to subtly augment existing public narratives about sport. As users create article narratives, they educate fellow fans in relevant social and sport meanings. This study analyzes two aspects of Wikipedia for sports fans, application of statistical information and connecting athletes with other sports figures and organizations, through a discourse analysis of article content and the discussion pages of ten sample athletes. These pages of retired celebrity athletes provide a means for exploring the multidirectional production processes used by the sport fan community to celebrate recorded events of sporting history in clearly delineated and verifiable ways, thus maintaining the sport fans’ community social values.

Development and Validation of a Measure of Sport Fans’ Specific Curiosity

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 621-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seong-Hee Park ◽  
Jae-Pil Ha ◽  
Daniel Mahony
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
General Information ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Measurement Scale ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Sport Fans ◽  
Fan Behavior ◽  
Sport Facility ◽  
Sport Fan ◽  
Development And Validation

While there is a relatively rich literature measuring curiosity outside of sport, there is little research on measuring sport fans’ curiosity. Based on Berlyne’s (1960) two dimensions of curiosity, the current research project aimed to develop a reliable and valid measurement scale for sport fans’ specific curiosity. Convenience samples of university students were used. Three studies were used to develop the 11-item Sport Fan Specific Curiosity Scale (SFSCS) was developed. Specifically, the SFSCS consisted of three factors: specific information (5 items), general information (3 items), and sport facility information (3 items). The SFSCS was found to be a reliable and valid scale to measure sport fans’ specific curiosity. The scale should be useful in predicting aspects of sport fan behavior for sport fans at various stages.

scholarly journals Becoming Sport Fans: Relative Deprivation and Social Identity

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Chae Rhee ◽  
John Wong ◽  
Yukyoum Kim
Keyword(s):  
Relative Deprivation ◽  
Social Identification ◽  
Team Identification ◽  
Support Teams ◽  
Sport Fans ◽  
Sport Team ◽  
Fan Behavior ◽  
Irrational Behavior ◽  
Community Identification ◽  
Sport Fan

This study explores how people become sport fans by elucidating why people support teams even when they are unsuccessful. This study fills a gap in the literature on sport fan behavior by applying Relative Deprivation and Social Identification Theories to understand sport fans’ seemingly irrational behavior. We conducted a series of interviews with 17 sport fans with diverse backgrounds. Findings suggest that interaction among Community Identification, Relative Deprivation, Team Identification, Sport Involvement and Representativeness of a sport team helps explain why people support certain teams and become fans, regardless of team success. Findings suggest that team Representativeness in a specific community is one of the most important factors influencing people to become fans. We also found that sport involvement is very important, especially if relative deprivation can elicit team identification from people with little to no sport involvement. Further research may identify the exact relationship between sport involvement and relative deprivation.

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