Sports Management Commons^™

An Analysis Of The Sport Fan You Don’T Want To Encounter: Willpower And Fan Dysfunction, Anna M. Minor, Daniel L. Wann

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Dysfunctional sport fans are classified as fans who have impaired function as it relates to socialization and social groups in the sport context, leading them to be highly confrontational and frequently complain within sporting environments (Wakefield & Wann, 2006). These fans are frequently loud, obsessive and even violent (Wann & James, 2019). The current research attempts to provide insight into this degree of excessive fandom behavior. Although previous work has examined demographics, alcohol, media consumption, and game attendance among dysfunctional fans, research has yet to examine the level of willpower (i.e., self-control) among these persons. With consideration that dysfunctional sport …

Participation Motivation Of Diverse Pickleball Participants: With A Marketing Implication, Mark Lifang Zhang, Steve S. Chen, Scott Thorton, Eric Street

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Pickleball has been widely reported as one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. Prior research has largely attributed this growth to the psychosocial benefits that pickleball provides to older adults, including increased social interaction and enhanced overall well-being. However, limited attention has been given to participation motivations and perceived benefits among other participant groups. The purpose of this study was to examine pickleball participants’ motivations, interests, and intentions for continued involvement across diverse demographic groups.

Participants included 431 individuals (54% male, 46% female) representing four age groups, with 67% aged 55 and older. Participants were recruited from two …

Coaching One's Own Child: An Ethnographic Study Of Parent-Coach Experiences In Youth Sport, Dr. Sandra Alspach, Dr. Jon Coles

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Over 27 million children in the United States are playing youth sports.  Many of those youth are being coached by their own parent. Although this phenomenon is commonplace, little research has been done to study how parent-coaches balance their dual roles.  To better understand communication, roles, and relationship dynamics in youth sports environments, this study examined the experiences of parent-coaches and their athlete children. There were two ethnographic investigations. In the first, 76 participants (34 parent-coaches and 42 child-athletes) ranging from age 8 to age 80 participated in semi-structured Zoom interviews. Personal networks and snowball sampling were used to invite …

“What Is Our Brand?” Examining The Indiana State University Athletics Rebrand, Matt Blaszka, Patrick T. Walsh, Craig Morehead

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Rebranding in sports has become commonplace as teams try to modernize their brand. Often, rebrands are viewed negatively by fans, particularly immediately following the rebrand. However, less is known about the impact of rebranding over time. In this case study, the Indiana State University athletics rebrand was explored three years after the initial launch. A total of 189 participants representing student-athletes, alumni, donors, faculty, and staff were asked open-ended questions on their feelings toward the rebrand. Four different themes emerged. The two positive themes were: modern logo, wordmark, and font, as well as public perception. The two negative themes were …

The Perception Of Hooliganism And Its Impact Among Naia Collegiate Soccer Players, Eric Street, Fred Cromartie, Steve S. Chen, Brandon Spradley

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

There have been multiple studies with regard to the different aspects of soccer hooliganism throughout the world. Most commonly, studies of hooliganism covered areas such as harassment, vandalism, fighting, theft, public intoxication, and crowd disorder revolving around the games of soccer in various countries. This phenomenon has been studied among the major four professional sports in the United States, yet there has been no extensive research on soccer “hooliganism” associated with Major League Soccer (MLS). This study examined the survey responses from 101 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) soccer players to identify their perceptions on severity of hooliganism and …

Something’S Gotta Give: An Analysis Of Team Derogation And Deviant Behavior Surrounding Rivalry Games, Cody T. Havard, Timothy D. Ryan, Michael Hutchinson

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

This case analysis discusses the ever-growing concern over players and participants showing derogation and negative behavior toward competitors before, during, and after rival contests. We discuss examples taken from the 2024 Rivalry Week in college football, along with underlying literature addressing out-group derogation, in-group bias, and the impacts of competition and rivalry on participant and fan behavior. A call for additional research on the phenomenon of increasingly negative behavior is provided.

The Likelihood Of Sport Fans Selecting A Team To Follow Based On Uniform Color, Frederick G. Grieve, Daniel L. Wann, Logan M. Grieve, Jordan M. Pearsall

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the relationship between color and supporting sport teams. Some reasons why individuals support teams are team identification, need to belong, and the minimal group paradigm. Participants in this study (final sample N = 131) completed a questionnaire packet to assess their selection of teams because of uniform color. Participants provided their favorite team and demographics, then completed the SSIS, SFQ, vignette, and TAS. Results from the current study indicated that some participants selected a team based on color. Those who did select a team based on color reported that they would …

To Book Or Not To Book: A Case Analysis Of The Mydisney Experience Mobile Application And The Future Of Consumer Engagement, Cody T. Havard

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

As more participatory services lean heavily into the use of mobile applications to engage consumers, it has become increasingly important to gain a better understanding of such amenities. The current case analysis discusses the use of the MyDisney Experience mobile application in the fall of 2024. The case analysis uses an autoethnographic approach to investigate how the application added to and subtracted from the user experience. Implications and future directions of research are discussed.

Perceptions Of Sport Fandom As A Means Of Meeting Psychological Needs, Daniel L. Wann Phd

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

The current study examined the use of sport fandom and team identification to assist in meeting four basic psychological needs: belonging, distinctiveness, structure, and meaning. The results indicated that fans view both general sport fandom and team identification as having the capability of helping them meet each of the needs, especially the need to belong. Additionally, team identification was believed to be more effective in assisting with the need for distinctiveness than was general sport fandom.

A Survey Of High School Athletic Directors And Implications For Sport Management Programs, Jon Coles Phd, Sally Ross Phd, Dana Munk Phd, Brian Roberts Ma

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Many undergraduate sport management students are interested in a career in interscholastic athletics; some students complete degree required internships in school settings, where they receive receiving mentoring from athletic directors (ADs) and assistant athletic directors. To best prepare sport management students for these jobs, it is necessary to obtain clarity about requisite job skills for interscholastic ADs. In addition, examining the academic training and career paths of current ADs can help sport management educators advise students who wish to work in interscholastic athletic administration. As a field with a diverse array of career options, it is imperative to know how …

A Linkedin Analysis: Job Placement For Students In Sport Management Program Of An Eastern Kentucky Public University, Jose Garcia, Steve S. Chen, Christy L. Trent

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

In addition to standardized tests and program assessments of academic programs, tracking college alums’ employment is also deemed an effective method for measuring student learning and success. In this case study, the authors examined 251 students’ LinkedIn profiles by using main keywords such as the name of the institution and sport management to gather information about current employment status, degree of program completion, and primary self-identified skills of observed individuals. The results indicated that about 72.3% of 347 graduates (n = 251) from 2007 to 2022 had a completed profile and job employment. However, only about 37% held a …

2024 Sport Science Forum Abstracts

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

These are abstracts from the 2024 Sport Science Forum, hosted by Dr. Rick Grieve and Western Kentucky University. The Forum was held April 5th snd 6th.

Predicting Tendencies To Consider Illegally Assisting A Sport Team: The Influence Of Team Identification And Sport Fan Dysfunction, Daniel L. Wann Phd, Brooke Kordys

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Previous research (Wann et al., 2001) had investigated the willingness of sport fans to consider illegal or unethical actions to assist their team (i.e., cheating behaviors such as taking a test for a player). They found that individuals with higher levels of team identification were particularly likely to consider engaging in these acts. The current investigation extended this work by incorporating fan dysfunction into the design. Consistent with expectations, the results indicated that both persons with high levels of identification and persons with high levels of dysfunction were most likely to consider engaging in the cheating behaviors.

From Andy’S Room To Big City And Nickelodeon: Extending The Brand To New Consumers Through Alternate Broadcasts Of Live Sports Entertainment, Cody T. Havard, Timothy D. Ryan

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

The Walt Disney Company aired the Toy Story Football Funday on Sunday, October 1^st, 2023. A live game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons played in London, England aired on ESPN+ while the Toy Story-themed alternate broadcast aired on Disney+. This game followed multiple alternate broadcasts of NFL games by Nickelodeon and an NHL game themed after Big City Greens on the Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney+. This analysis paper discusses the use of these alternate broadcasts in an attempt to attract younger viewers and expand consumers for leagues and live sports entertainment. A brief …

The Curious Case Of Conference Realignment: A Call To Action For Research, Cody T. Havard, Timothy D. Ryan, Michael Hutchinson, Rhema D. Fuller

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

This topical essay addresses the need for increased research related to the 2022-2023 iteration of conference realignment in college athletics. Namely, the essay provides a brief background on the massive shifts in major conferences beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. It suggests possible areas of inquiry for interested researchers that would provide benefit to academics, practitioners, and stakeholders of college athletics.

An Exploration Of The Correlation Between Students’ Political Orientation And Sport Fandom, Rick Grieve, Jairus Davenport

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

As of late, researchers in the field of sport psychology have made efforts to deepen our overall understanding of sport fandom and what it entails. As a result, there has been a great deal of research conducted that relates directly to the examination of sports watching behaviors, fans’ motivations behind their consumption of particular sports leagues, and team identification, but, at present, there has been minimal research conducted that has examined whether there is a correlation between one’s sport fandom and political orientation. As such, the current study sought to explore the possibility of there being a relationship between college …

The Relationship Between Sport Fan Dysfunction And Trait Aggression, Daniel L. Wann Phd, Jana Hackathorn, Morgan Brost

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

The current investigation was designed to examine the relationships among sport fandom, dysfunctional sport fandom, and trait aggression. Although past research had yielded inconsistent results (Wann et al., 1999, 2002), based on more recent research (Castleman et al., 2020) it was hypothesized that fan dysfunction would be a significant positive predictor of trait aggression while sport fandom would be a significant negative predictor of trait aggression. Additionally, we predicated that fan dysfunction would mediate the relationship between sport fandom and trait aggression. Analyses supported each hypothesis, indicating that once one takes into account the dysfunctional component of sport fandom, fandom …

Rally With The Rapids: An Experiential Learning Project With Special Olympics Athletes, Emily Cisek Ph.D, Michael Mignano Ph.D, Jon Coles Ph.D

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Background: Students who have participated in an experiential learning project are better prepared and have a superior internship because of the experience. Furthermore, students can increase their diversity-related competencies by developing interpersonal skills through exposure to diverse cultural identities. Purpose: Guided by intergroup contact theory, the purpose of this study was to explore the impact of an experiential learning project for a Special Olympics basketball event on undergraduate sport management student’s development of diversity-related competencies. Methodology/Approach: Participants included eight undergraduate sport management students from a Midwestern university who participated in the project as part of a sport management curriculum. Retrospective …

2023 Sport Science Forum Abstracts

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

The Sport Science Forum is hosted by Dr. Frederick G. Grieve and Western Kentucky University. This is a collection of abstracts from the Forum in order of presentation.

Streaming For The Win: The Future Of Live Sports Entertainment In Direct-To-Consumer Streaming, Cody T. Havard, Timothy D. Ryan

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

This topical essay discusses the growing presence of live sports entertainment on direct-to-consumer streaming services, and how future research could benefit consumers and companies. A brief overview of Amazon Prime streaming NFL Thursday Night Football games is introduced, along with a background of live sports and streaming services. A call to action for future research is provided with potential areas in which investigators can focus.

The Urgency For Developing Cybersecurity Awareness In Sport Agencies And Organizations, Steve Chen, Karen Doran

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

No abstract provided.

Using Sports To “Build It Up” Or “Wash It Down”: How Sportswashing Give Sports A Bad Name., Steve Chen, Karen Doran

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

As society evolves, sports have become a vital social function and interactive means in our modern society. This essay addresses a few recent sport news stories that ignites the discussion of “sportswashing.” The authors illustrated several news cases and examples of governments and organizations using sports to cover up inhumane acts, scandals, or controversies for political purposes and power control. The primary intent of this essay is to help readers be aware of this social trend and inspire all to make ethical and good judgement in decision-making.

Key words: Sport-for-development, sportswashing, international sports, LIV golf, and Olympics Games,

Sport Fans' Consumption Behaviors Following The Covid-19 Pandemic And Return To In-Person Spectating, Frederick G. Grieve, Joseph C. Case

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine consumption of sporting events after sport leagues returned from the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 329 college-aged sport fans were recruited for the study. Participants were administered measures to assess their sport fandom, sport fandom spectator identification, sport rivalry fan perception, and behavioral consumption of sport. Data was obtained between October 2020 to January 2021 as sport leagues returned to play. Results from the current study indicated that current sport consumption is at a similar level as it was pre-pandemic. However, the methods of consumption were inconsistent. Participants in the present …

Prime Video Vs. Netflix Vs. Disney+: Investigating Fandom And Rivalry Among Direct-To-Consumer Streaming Services And Sport, Cody T. Havard, Timothy D. Ryan, Michael Hutchinson

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

The current study investigated differences in perceptions and likely behaviors toward rival out-groups among sport and direct-to-consumer streaming services. Results indicated that fans of sport reported higher identification with their favorite team and more negativity toward their rival team than did fans of streaming services. Further, being a fan of both sport and streaming services was correlated with more negativity toward the sport rival and more positivity toward rival streaming services. Finally, fans of streaming did not differ in their perceptions and likely behaviors toward rival groups among streaming platforms. Discussion focuses on implications and avenues for future research.

Sport Science Forum Abstracts, Frederick G. Grieve

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Through a collaboration with the Sport Science Forum at Western Kentucky University, FinSHEEM is able to present the abstracts from the meeting focusing on sport science and sport fandom. Presenters are invited to submit full papers from the Forum.

The Influence Of Fantasy Sport Participation On Fans' Perceptions Of The Impact Of The Legalization Of Sport Wagering, Daniel L. Wann, Ryan K. Zapalac, Ted B. Peetz, Frederick G. Grieve, Julie A. Partridge

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

As states look for ways to increase revenue, many are making attempts to increase the availability of legalized sport wagering. Extending previous work designed to further our understanding of how such actions could potentially impact sport fandom, the current study examined the impact of prior participation in fantasy sports, a pastime sharing much in common with sport gambling. The findings revealed that level of participation in fantasy sports were related to expectations of increased sport wagering, should such opportunities become more available. However, fantasy sport participation was not related to expected changes in sport interest or consumption.

Is There Really No Crying In Baseball? Examining The Acceptance Of Crying In Sport, Tommy Derossett, Daniel L. Wanna, Jana Hackathorn, Sean C. Rife, Morgan Owens, Brighton C. Hollingsworth, Kaylee Noel, Kendrick Settler, Quinn Lambert, Meagan Beckerson

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

It is not uncommon to see tears shed by players on both the winning and losing teams, particularly after a championship game. However, sport is also seen as an environment where competitors go to “put their game faces on” and keep their emotions in check, such as during the film A League of Their Own, when a manager tells a sobbing player that “there is no crying in baseball!” The current study sought to examine the extent to which individuals agree with this perspective. Specifically, participants rated the acceptability of crying by males and females in both sport and non-sport …

Disney, Netflix, And Amazon Oh My! An Analysis Of Streaming Brand Competition And The Impact On The Future Of Consumer Entertainment, Cody T. Havard

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

The current analysis paper discusses the impact of brands such as Disney, Netflix, Amazon, and others on the growing streaming service space. In particular, comparisons and differences are identified between various streaming brands, addressing how consumers and the brands are influenced by the relevant competition and rivalries. Additionally, the passage also discusses how the streaming competition among content providers may impact the future of consumer entertainment. Finally, additional work and analysis regarding streaming and its impact on consumer behavior is requested.

Where The Sidewalk Ends: A Call To Action For Investigating The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Fans And Consumers, Cody T. Havard

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

The current topical essay addresses the need for future researchers to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on consumers, fans, and supporters, and how organizations adapted to the health crisis. Specifically, background and ideas for research regarding the impact of COVID-19 are presented for the areas of sport, entertainment, hospitality, and event management.

Leveraging Dimensions Of Specialized Knowledge In The Theme Park Industry: An Analysis Of Stakeholder Perspectives, Carissa Baker

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

This analysis addresses the value of utilizing multiple knowledge domains when trying to grasp a subject. In this case, the discourses of academia, industry, and fandom can inform one another and prove beneficial to understanding a complex entity like a theme park. The analysis suggests breaking out of silos, embracing interdisciplinary, and engaging in informal and formal relationships between stakeholders with different perspectives.