Digital Commons Network^™

Gameday Food And Beverage: The Perspective Of College Football Fans, Brody J. Ruihley, Rob Hardin

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

This study examines sport spectators’ food and beverage experience through the lens of service quality, targets of quality, and standards of quality in sport-based services. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 1,495 adults attending at least one American college football game. Thematic analysis produced five themes of price, variety, quality, service, and amenities while comparison analysis found several demographic differences. Findings reveal food and beverage to be critical in overall experience at sporting events. The overwhelming majority of comments were negative and findings provide feedback as to how important this aspect of the game experience is.

Beyond Amateurism: The Rebranding Of Major College Athletics, Dallas D. Branch Jr., Olin L. Adams, Marie Kraska

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

For decades prior to NCAA v. Board of Regents, the brand of college athletics, even at the highest level, was amateurism. However, the last three decades of surging revenues and costs, as well as the current wave of litigation challenging amateurism, force decision makers in major college athletics to contemplate a future in which amateurism is banished or in retreat. In sum, the brand has outgrown amateurism. Major college athletics can survive a paradigm shift by selling the action in its games, the game day experience, and the traditions of the institutions.

In-Store Use Of Mobile Phones For Point-Of-Purchase Product Information Searches In The Us, Kristine Johnson, Manuel C. Pontes

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

This research investigates how US consumers use mobile phones in-store to acquire product-related information used to assist with purchase decisions. Data were collected in early January 2013 by a telephone survey of a nationally representative sample of adults in the US. The data collection was sponsored by the Pew Foundation and made available for this research. Younger smartphone owners were significantly more likely to use their cell-phones to ask friends or family for product advice, to read product reviews online, and to engage in online price comparison while shopping. Women were significantly more likely than men to use their cell …

Brand Engagement And Consumer Innovativeness, Ronald E. Goldsmith, Leisa R. Flynn, Felipe Korzenny

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

Brand engagement describes the tendency of consumers to make the brands they buy part of their self-concept. This new insight into consumer behavior offers marketers many ways to create relationships with their customers. An unexplored aspect of brand engagement is how it is related to consumer innovativeness, the tendency to be among the first buyers of new products. The present study used survey data from 2399 adult U.S. consumers to show that brand engagement is positively related to consumer innovativeness. This finding suggests that in addition to promoting the features of new products likely to attract innovators, showing how the …

Consumer Trait And Situational Factor Determinants Of Technology Acceptance, Jon M. Martin

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

This study examines the internal relationships of the basic technology acceptance model (TAM) constructs and TAM’s determinant relationships with external predictors from: a) demographics (age, gender, income, education, and ethnicity); b) psychographic tech readiness facets (optimism, innovativeness, discomfort, insecurity); c) situational factors (wait time and crowding). Analysis confirms the basic TAM model and suggests that the relationships of age, wait time, crowding, and optimism with TAM’s latent variables (perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use) appear valid and generalizable and have implications for self-service technology (SST) adoption research. Exploratory research that omits TAM’s moderating variables (perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use) and that …

Characteristics And Motivations Of Die-Hard Sport Fans, Ryan Smart, Steve Chen, Kenneth Henderson

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

Past research has examined the die-hard fans’ characteristics, consumption behaviors, and attending motivation of avid sport fans. The study further evaluated those fans’ characteristics and motivation through a series of qualitative interview questions based on the conceptual frameworks of loyalty, fan motivation, fan identity, and “sport-as-religion.” The participants were 24 season-ticket holders of a Mid-west professional football team who also identified themselves as a fan of football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. Their fanship varied from collegiate to professional level teams of various locations. Results showed die-hard fans’ game-attending motivations were influenced by their family, popularity and performance of players, and …

Status Consumption And The Millennial Consumer: An Exploratory Study, Angelina Heugel

Honors College Theses

This paper focuses on millennial consumers’ perceptions about the motivation to purchase luxury and status items for the young working professional. It defines and addresses the relationship between status symbols and what drives the millennial generation’s purchases and desires to purchase. Research was conducted through a detailed literature review, qualitative pre-test and focus group. Through the pre-test, themes of luxury and status items were found. Common product categories to represent status items included: accessories, clothing, technology, travel, pet ownership, home ownership, expensive cars, and entertainment. The focus group was conducted in a classroom setting discussion with thirty students. Students participating …

Buy American: An Introspective Look Into National Corporate Consciousness, Jenna S. Florence

Honors College Theses

My research is interested in examining product perceptions and the importance of national identity on the marketability on a variety of foreign and domestic consumer products. I am also interested in determining whether the process of globalization has weakened an individual’s sense of national identity and whether that changes their preference for purchasing a foreign and/or domestic product. Primarily, my research question asks whether nationalism influences a product’s marketability. My hypothesis suggests that individual perceptions are heavily influenced by a sense of nationalism and ultimately affects an individual’s decision whether or not to buy a foreign good. To test this …

The Project Shop, Lindsey Sullivan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Project Shop is a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) brand designed to promote a value-creating activity that impacts the lives and personal development for those who participate. The strategic culmination of research, marketing, and graphic design generated during the creation of this brand is intended to attract a target demographic of 18-24 year olds. This target market is identified as a transient population often typified by being civic-minded and pragmatically idealist.

The Project Shop caters to the needs of its target market by concentrating on habits and particular styles of living. This demographic often seeks DIY projects that are customizable due to …