Business Commons^™

How Sports Franchises Communicate Via Social Media, Christopher Jones

HIM 1990-2015

The aim of the research is to evaluate how professional sport organizations communicate via social media and lay groundwork on how to effectively do so in the future. The research focuses on the history of social media and its involvement in sport, how it's used today, examples of effective communication and how it can eventually drive revenue for a sport franchise and build a stronger fan base at the same time.

A Leader's Impact On Sense Of Community In One Venue At The London 2012 Olympics, Laura Grouchy

All Theses

The importance of creating and maintaining sense of community in workplaces is becoming an increasingly essential facet to help restore bonds and develop support systems which can create happier and more efficient employees. The focus of this research will be on how leadership influences sense of community within one venue at the London Olympic Organizing Committee (LOCOG). This problem is of interest to scholars because Organizing Committees are rapidly growing, temporary and have symbolical strong cultures. In-depth interviews, participant observation and a big five-inventory questionnaire were administered to eight full-time employees at the same venue in London Olympic Organizing Committee. …

Fan Motivation For Attendance To Men's Division I College Soccer Matches, Stephanie Withey

All Theses

Fan attendance rates are a vital part to college athletics. With most athletic programs already losing money for universities, the recent decline in attendance rates has added further stress to budgets (Fulks, 2010). Most of the research on sports fans examines the socio-motivational and psychological motivations for attending games. Fan research has primarily focused on English soccer and American baseball, with little focus being placed on college soccer. While sports like college soccer do not generate enough revenue to sustain themselves, athletic departments still need to maintain positive attendance numbers at these events. Non-revenue sports provide free publicity and advertisement …

A Profile Of The Characteristics And Professional Development Needs Of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division Ii Athletic Directors, Dustin Smith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose for conducting the study was to identify the personal, professional, and educational backgrounds of NCAA Division II athletic directors. The study was designed to detail the professional development opportunities that existed among the population, and determine how frequently the NCAA Division II athletic directors took advantage of the opportunities that were available to them. The significance of the study rested on the ability to identify the NCAA Division II athletic director population and describe the qualities and characteristics that comprised the target population. Since little data existed detailing this population, the study provided an opportunity to describe a …

It's A Business: A Financial Analysis Of The Bcs System And Its Alternatives, Wilson Neely

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

There is an annual debate over the structure of the postseason format of college football. In this thesis, the current format is explained, along with two popular alternatives. Gameday profitability is determined for each of the three formats to provide an answer to the question of which format is the most lucrative.

Determinants Of Major League Baseball Player Salaries, Tyler Wasserman

Honors Capstone Projects - All

In 2003, Michael Lewis published Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, which forever changed the finances and economics of baseball. It began a movement towards using advanced statistical analysis to determine the value of baseball players, in order to build a roster that will win the most games at the lowest cost. The Moneyball movement has resulted in a multitude of new statistics to try to drill a player’s value down to one number that represents his marginal revenue product, or his individual contribution to the team’s success.

Player salaries are typically the largest cost for Major …

Major League Soccer Case Study An Examination Into The Future Of The League, Matt Samost

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Major League Soccer has grown tremendously since its inception in 1996. The league, however, still is a work in progress. The overarching question of this case study deals with an examination into the future of the league. Will it continue to be a niche sport on the American sports landscape or will it challenge the big four leagues in the years to come? Broken into five subtopics, the case study looks to address this question by examining the league through multiple lenses in order to be able to take both an in-depth and wide look at the current condition of …

Predicting Chest Press Strength From A 4rm Triceps Brachii Exercise In Trained Women, Krystina Nadia Moschella

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Determining maximal strength is important when developing a resistance exercise program for trained athletes. The most frequent strength procedure used to evaluate maximum strength is the 1RM test. However, risk of injury from a 1RM test increases for the athletes, therefore a 4RM test is used in the following study. The purpose of the study is to test whether there is a linear relationship between the bench press and the triceps rope extension exercise. A secondary purpose is the development of a prediction equation for the purpose of prescribing bench press exercise loads from triceps brachii loads using a 4RM …

Social Media’S Correlation To Fan Behavior, Aj Van Scott

Sport Management Undergraduate

Social media and fan behavior are two very interesting topics. More and more people are learning more about social media everyday and it is here to stay, it is not a fad, and people expect organization to be posting about games or events so that they can find out the information on social media. It is important for organizations to be on Twitter or Facebook because it is important to integrate into people’s lives. Fan behavior research proves that environmental factors are one of the biggest deterrents for fans when it comes to trying to attend games and that record …

How Are Student Athletes Perceiving Female Coaches, Avery Light

Sport Management Undergraduate

This study was designed to assess the perceptions that student athletes have of female coaches and relate these perceptions to the establish factors within the literature review. Research has suggested possible explanations for the decline of females coaching female sports, however, the focus has not been on the extreme low number of women coaching male sports. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to gain an understanding as to why females are not coaching male sports. A cross sectional survey will be designed and sent out to Male and female student athletes within the NCAA Division III Empire 8 conference. …

Recruiting: An Undervalued Asset?, Brandon G. Harrison

Sport Management Undergraduate

NCAA Division I basketball has grown to be an enourmously lucrative business venture in recent years. However, in order to capitalize on the revenues that can be generated by NCAA Division I basketball schools need to be successful. Therefore, it is important to address what can lead to success. Previously, it was thought that coaching status and skill were the key factors leading to success. However, research has been done to discover the relationship between recruiting and success in Division I Football, but very little research has been done on Division I Basketball. The purpose of this study is to …

Nba Star Power: Impact On Attendance, Cory Metcalfe

Sport Management Undergraduate

In lieu of an abstract, here is the paper's first paragraph: One challenge many team’s in many different leagues face is the ability to recognize fan motives and fan attendance to their team’s games (Ouray 2006). Team owners struggle every year to find the best balance between winning games, winning championships, training players and hiring coach’s all on the base of making money. Teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) earn money through T.V contracts, licensed goods, and Ticket sales. Many different owners in different leagues have their own approaches and goals when the thought of raising attendance at games …

Division Iii Student-Athletes Perceptions Of Pay For Play, Daniel P. Maloney

Sport Management Undergraduate

Since the NCAA was first created, the subject of academic corruption in intercollegiate athletics has been of significant concern and empirical inquiry (Ridpath, 2008). There are many current issues that are still ongoing today such as: the denial of payment of Division I football players, the exploitation of student-athletes in academics, and the difference in treatment between student-athletes and students academically. Although this may not always hold true at all Division I schools, previous studies have concluded the values and missions of the NCAA seem to be misaligned with what they are actually promoting. I would like to prove that …

Pba Format Change: Aligning With Fan Motivations?, Jeremy Armison

Sport Management Undergraduate

According to the 2007 US Census, bowling has one of the highest participation rates in sports. With 43.5 million participants it ranked 5th in sports/activities behind walking, exercising with equipment, swimming, and camping, yet it struggles at the professional level (US Census, 2007). Changes to the format of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) have been made in the past with little success. The PBA is hoping to change that with this new format change which includes team competition. Team sport spectators are motivated by different factors than individual sport spectators but there has not been research done on PBA fans. …

Why Do Fans Use Coping Mechanisms And What Can The Nhl Do To Keep Fans Interested?, Joseph E. Radulski

Sport Management Undergraduate

There have been many lockouts in professional sports over the last decade (Drewes, 2005). The NHL has had four lockouts in the last twenty years (Fitzpatrick, n.d.). In the past research has shown during a lockout fans will find ways to cope with the loss of a season (Grieve, Shoenfelt, Wann & Zapalac, 2009; Winfree & Fort, 2008). After the lockout in 2004-2005 the NHL used marketing strategies to attract new fans to the sport (Gee, 2009; Batchelor & Formentin, 2008).

There has been no previous research on why fans choose the coping mechanisms they use. There has also been …

Media’S Representation Of Player Performance, Dj Sanzotta

Sport Management Undergraduate

A player’s statistical performance during a given week of an NFL season is something that influences the way the media views them. Statistical performances are often a great barometer of how talented a player is. The quarterback position in the NFL is often one that the media puts under a microscope. Players are constantly praised or criticized for their ability to lead their respective teams as well as their ability to fill up a stat line. During the 2012 NFL season there were many quarterbacks that the media tended to focus on. Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Tony Romo …

Fan Avidity As It Relates To Proximity Of Minor And Major League Affiliates, Joseph Tyson

Sport Management Undergraduate

When sports organizations are affiliating themselves with minor league teams, there can be many factors that go into the decision of what teams to align themselves with. Management should pay particular attention to the aspects of fan motivation, identification, behavior and avidity of the minor league team fans when making these decisions. By associating themselves with teams within close proximity, they could maximize the positive outcome created by that affiliation. Little research has been done however on the relationship between fans of minor league and major league teams within close proximity of each other. This paper is meant to examine …

Season Seat Holder Retention In Minor League Baseball, Matt Butler

Sport Management Undergraduate

In lieu of an abstract, here is the paper's first paragraph: In minor league (AAA) baseball the amount of season tickets sold for the season can account for at least fifteen percent of total paid attendance for the. With this in mind a sport manager may wonder what brings season ticket buyers back season after season, and what can be done to measure this occurrence. An added question for front office staff members is, do these reasons coincide with a team’s marketing strategy to maximize the amount of fans who buy season tickets? To analyze this occurrence I looked into …

Increasing Concession Revenue Through Mobile Devices: Ralph Wilson Stadium Offering In-Seat Food Service, Ryan Sweet

Sport Management Undergraduate

Mobile in-seat ordering has begun to surface being tested around the nation at various venues to fulfill customer’s fascination with technology and to better satisfy their customers. It has been found consumers are concerned with wait-lines and quality of service which can negatively impact their purchase behavior (Muret, 2008b). Concession sales are a main revenue source for franchise owners who are experiencing more need for increased revenue (Levine, 2007).

Delaware North SportService, an industry leader in sport food service are the food and beverage provider for Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mobile in-seat ordering has not been used at this facility and …

Impact Of Fantasy Sports On Participants’ Interest In Real-League Occurrences, Michael Carroll

Sport Management Undergraduate

Fantasy sports have developed into their own significant section of the sport industry, accounting for $4 billion and having over 32 million participants in the United States and Canada (FSTA, 2012). Academic research into fantasy sports is a fairly new, and much of it has focused on motivation behind fantasy gaming, while any consumer behavior research has been focused on media consumption and team identification. This research is for determining what the relationship between fantasy sport participation and consumption of information about league current events, such as rule changes, labor issues, and team rebranding, is. The participants in this research …

Do Sufficient Recreational Programs For Disabled Children Exist In Monroe And Ontario Counties?, Lauren A. Bauerlein

Sport Management Undergraduate

We live in a country where people, including the handicapped are guaranteed many rights and freedoms. The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) ensures that equal opportunities are provided to people with disabilities. There is a large percentage of children in the United States with disabilities. These mental or physical disabilities impair their major life activities. Research shows that both formal and informal activities have proven to be beneficial to children with disabilities. The purpose of Parks and Recreation Departments is to provide physical and non-physical activities to people in the community. A survey of Directors of Parks and Recreation departments …

What Influences Student Athletes To Choose Division Iii Schools?, Patrick Stellman

Sport Management Undergraduate

Student-Athletes today are faced with many difficult decisions in their young lives, one of them being what college they want to attend. Those student athletes that don’t have the luxury of being recruited to Division I or II schools must decide what they value most in a school and how the school they choose will impact their future. The student athletes at St. John Fisher College are no exception. Student-athletes at St. John Fisher will be to complete a survey looking at the factors and influences that lead them to their decision.

How Do Factors Preventing The Career Advancement Of Women Relate To The Career Advancement Of Women In Ncaa Division Iii Top-Level Athletic Administration?, Michelle Montgomery

Sport Management Undergraduate

The underrepresentation of females is not exclusive to only one part of business, but rather, this idea has been seen throughout athletic administration for many years (Acosta & Carpenter 1998, 2004). To illustrate and attempt to explain women in business, previous research has explored the discipline of the vast psychological barriers and the stereotypes that have been prevalent in society. In addition, past research has been focused within Division I colleges under the NCAA. In this study, I will attempt to synthesize my participant’s responses in order to hone in on the athletic administration aspect of business and attempt to …

Fan Communities And Subgroups: Exploring Individuals' Supporter Group Experiences, Bruce David Tyler

Open Access Dissertations

The aggregate of a sport team’s fans may be viewed as a consumption community that surrounds the team and its brand (Devasagayam & Buff, 2008; Hickman & Ward, 2007). Beneath this larger consumption umbrella, smaller groups of consumers may exist (Dholakia, Bagozzi, & Pearo, 2004), such as specific supporter groups for a team. Individuals thus may identify with multiple layers of the consumption group simultaneously (Brodsky & Marx, 2001; Hornsey & Hogg, 2000). Although past researchers have studied supporter groups (Giulianotti, 1996, 1999a; Parry & Malcolm, 2004) and consumption communities (Kozinets, 2001; Muñiz & O’Guinn, 2001; McAlexander, Schouten, & Koenig, …

The Role Of Capabilities In Innovation Adoption Decisions, Kevin Snyder

Open Access Dissertations

Successful innovations have been assumed by prior literature to ultimately be adopted by all competitors within an industry based on social explanations or economic rationale specific to the efficiency of the innovation. However, capabilities possessed by a firm can enhance or inhibit the adoption based upon their similarity to those used in the innovation. In categorizing a firm's capabilities as complementary, substitutive, or neutralizing to the innovation, this study provides an economic explanation for the role of internal capabilities in adoption decisions.

Using a sample of professional football teams adopting the West Coast Offense, I find that capabilities influence the …

Perceptions Of Leadership Styles And Job Satisfaction In A Sample Of High School Athletic Directors In The United States, Colin J. Turey

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined how athletic directors perceive their leadership roles in interscholastic athletics and the relationship of their leadership styles to their job satisfaction. The conceptual framework of this study was Bass and Avolio’s (1994) full range leadership model, also known as the transformational-transactional leadership model, which consists of 9 factors—5 transformational behaviors: idealized influence (attributed), idealized influence (behavior), inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration; 2 transactional behaviors: contingent reward and management-by-exception (active); 2 passive/avoidant behaviors: management-by-exception (passive) and laissez-faire. These 9 factors are measured by the Multi-Factor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). The study was also informed by …

The Dilemma: Career Transition Of African American Male Football Players At Division I Institutions, Kellen Jamil Northcutt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and understand perceptions of African American male football athletes at Division I institutions that also played professional football, regarding their collegiate experiences and transition from athletics to post-playing careers. The study examined issues of race and social interaction, academic preparation, economic status, leadership opportunities, and the transitions from collegiate and professional sports. The participants in this study consisted of six former NFL players who attended college and played collegiately at NCAA predominately white Division I institutions in the Southern Regional Education Board member states in the United States. Using qualitative …

An Analysis Of The Contract Year Phenomenon In The Nba: Do Players Perform Better Or Worse, Tyler Gaffaney

CMC Senior Theses

The present study uses a novel measure of over performance (percent deviation from career average) to analyze the contract year phenomenon in the NBA. Historically, the literature has pointed toward over performance across almost all statistical measures of performance. However, previous research has assumed that all players are universally affected by the presence of a contract year in the same manner. The present study finds significant results that contradict previous research by dividing the sample of players into subgroups by age, career PER and position. Furthermore, the results of this paper’s statistical analysis illustrate the first examples of systematic underperformance …

A Review Of The Policy Development Processes That Relate To The Inclusion Of People With A Disability In Sport : Some Western Australian Evidence, Helen Cunningham

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In the late 1960s, there was a major change in social policy and legislation in developed countries that improved the rights and opportunities for people with a disability in all aspects of society, including sport. In 1992, in concert with the general acceptance of the social model of disability, Australia enacted legislation making it illegal to discriminate against a person with a disability; this encouraged their inclusion into the community (Australian Sports Commission, 2005; Doll-Tepper, 1999; Thomas & Smith, 2009).

In order to meet the obligations of anti-discrimination legislation, Australian sport organisations became active in preparing policy frameworks to guide …

An Analysis Of The Possibilities Of Applying The North American Management Model To Most Large-Scale Sports Facilities In China, Xi Li

Theses and Dissertations

As more and more international mega events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Universiade Shenzhen 2011,the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games as well as the China National Sports Games take place in different cities, a lot of large-scale sports facilities have been built in China. However, over a long period of time, these large-scale sports facilities struggle with several operational and maintenance problems, such as high maintenance fees, design defects, low use of efficiency, single functionality and management challenges. This situation did not change until a group of North American facilities management companies came to China in the last few …