Sports Management Commons^™

Barriers To Baseball: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Factors That Impact Contract Value In Major League Baseball, Ryan A. Crowl

Senior Theses

The landscape of Major League Baseball’s free agency is an evolving one with numerous factors impacting negotiated contracts as player salaries escalate and teams adopt new strategies of luring players to their organizations. This study delves into the intricate dynamics of this free agent market, exploring the factors that influence contract values and negotiating power. Through empirical analysis and mathematical regressions, we explore the enduring significance of multiple factors on contract value, encompassing demographic indicators as well as on-field performance. Subsequently, we propose our own explanations of any observed inequities or significance and provide rational approaches for players and their …

Statistical Analysis And Machine Learning To Improve League Championship Series Teams, Alexander Gilles

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

One area for further study in Esports is the use of advanced analytics from a performance standpoint. This culminating experience project sought to find and implement effective performance analytics techniques, using the most popular Esport (League of Legends) as its subject. The research questions asked are (Q1) How do champions, players, and their associated in-game variables impact the results of League of Legends matches? (Q2) How can machine learning algorithms be implemented to utilize descriptive and predictive analytics for League of Legends most effectively? Additionally, while not an element of the analysis and machine learning model, it is important …

The Future Of Name, Image, And Likeness In Advertising, Olivia E. Nuss

LSU Master's Theses

This study explores the unique intersection of the law and the theories of communication related to a student athlete’s ability to receive compensation based off their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The purpose of this study is to understand the future of NIL legislation application as it relates to emerging media and student-athletes’ privacy interests in order to better understand influencer marketing and the impact new legislation will have on student-athlete brand deals. Through a series of semi-structured, in-depth interviews, I explored industry trends in NIL as it relates to brand partnerships and advertising, focusing on key players, methods, and …

Testing Efficiency In Nhl Betting Markets, Charles Luxton, Joshua Spizman, David Moore

Honors Thesis

The efficiency of markets is a prominent topic in the field of finance. Market efficiency has been thoroughly examined across many subsectors of finance; however thus far, existing research has sparsely covered the increasingly prominent sports betting market. This market is currently valued at roughly $10B per year (Grandview). In this article, we evaluate the efficiency of sports betting markets, using NHL betting lines and results from 2015-2020 to create a multivariate probit model which tests the market’s efficiency. Using a multivariate probit model to identify NHL money line bets with a relatively high probability of success compared to their …

The Impact Of Transfer Spending In Expediting Improvement Of On-Field Performance Of English Premier League Clubs, Brendan Merten

Senior Theses

This thesis analyzes transfer spending and performance data from English Premier League football clubs participating in the 1992-2021 seasons of the English Premier League using regression analysis and Granger causality analysis. The analysis attempts to extend existing research that indicates a significant causal relationship between transfer spending and performance. I then speak to the sustainability of transfer spending necessary to improve performance over a specified length of time. Further discussion considers implications of Financial Fair Play regulations and explores relevant case studies of Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Chelsea, Leicester City, and Newcastle United.

The Business Of The Nba Could Be Changed Forever Because Of The Coronavirus, Korey S. Matthews

Capstones

This project explores the possible changes that the NBA could make to help its business thrive after the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has caused the league to lose revenue, and because of this, new business practices could be put in place to help the league recoup some of the revenue that it has lost. These practices could also help the league grow in the future. In this project, you will hear from experts that will give their opinion on new avenues that the NBA could look to gain revenue from. You'll also hear from fans about their view of the …

Hosting The Fifa World Cup: An Economic Analysis Of How The World Cup Has Impacted The Economy Of A Developed And A Developing Nation, Juan Borga

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This thesis is a microeconomic study of the economic impact hosting the FIFA World Cup can have on both a developed and developing nation. I will examine the economies of Germany and Brazil, three years prior and three years after hosting the tournament in 2006 and 2014 respectively. The pressures imposed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) require significant monetary investments for the World Cup to be considered successful, but have countries been allocating their resources effectively? The purpose of this thesis is to determine the extent to which it is economically advantageous for a nation to host …

The Perpetuation Of Nineteenth Century Amateurism As A British Virtue In Modern Olympic Track & Field, Katrina Marie Smith

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explored the financial plight of modern track and field from a historical perspective. Historically, track and field was governed by organizations originally founded on the concept of amateurism. These organizations included the International Olympic Committee, the International Amateur Athletic Federation (now called World Athletics), the Amateur Athletic Union, Amateur Athletic Association, and amateur athletic clubs of Britain. From the mid-nineteenth century to the 1970s, amateurism dominated track and field worldwide beginning in Britain. In order to understand the financial structure of track and field historically, this thesis endeavored to examine amateurism as a British virtue.

Child Sport Fan Behavior: An Examination Of The Effects Of Socialization, Branding, And Alternatives On Children’S Psychological Connections To Sports Teams, Katherine Rose Nakamoto Reifurth

Theses and Dissertations

This three-study dissertation focuses on child fans of professional sport teams and the ways in which they become fans and attach themselves and connect to these sport brands. In Study 1, the researchers focused on the socialization into fandom of young children and the effects of communities and the game-day environment on this socialization utilizing qualitative observations and interviews with children ages 6 to 14 and resulted in an expanded understanding of the dame-day aspects that attract and excite children most. In Study 2, the researchers focused on the aspects of a new team’s brand that children ages 5 to …

Are The Public Subsidies Of Professional Sports Stadiums Worth The Cost Of Building Them?, Spencer Abraham

CMC Senior Theses

The results generated by this research argue that, in the future, communities should take into account crime and other social costs as they analyze the merits of investing in new sports complexes and that a failure to consider these factors could constitute a serious dereliction on the parts of the public officials who are ultimately responsible for new facility investment decision making. Moreover, both this research and previous studies of the economic effects of new sports facilities, strongly indicate that public entities considering funding new facilities do a more in depth independent study of the likely economic consequences of their …

Recruiting Process: The Decision Is Now, Joshua Michels

Sport Management Undergraduate

The college athletic recruiting process is one cluttered with many different factors. Studies have analyzed institutional and social factors impacting a prospective student-athletes’ recruitment process. However, little research has explored recruiting from an athlete’s perspective on how they make their college decision. This study aimed to investigate the most influential factors in a Division III student-athlete’s college decision based on the college recruiting process. The purpose of conducting this research is to highlight and identify the factors that student athletes consider in regards to their recruiting process, and the school they later choose to attend and continue their athletic careers. …

College Athletics And The Money Behind It, Ryan Henderson

Sport Management Undergraduate

College athletic departments desire the positive attention that is garnered through playoff appearances and championships. Programs believe that if they spend more, they will win more, and gain footing on the national stage. This theory is supported by the tens of millions of dollars currently being spent in college sport. However, this theory is largely untested. Tens of millions of dollars are being spent by college athletic programs to put their teams atop of the national standings. With so much money being spent, programs expect to see results, whether that is playoff appearances or championships, schools want positive attention. This …

The Impact Of Coaches' Character On Youth Basketball Players, Natasha Hill

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

If utilized effectively, recreation and sports can serve as major tools for developing youth, improving the educational environment, and increasing the number of productive adults that are healthier physically and mentally to positively impact society. Most research targeting recreation and sports developing youth has the perspective primarily of parents and youth. Evaluating the character strengths of coaches and youth athletes who actively participate in team basketball is vital.

An exploration of the value of basketball and character strengths of (n = 64) youth athletes, between the ages of 12 to 16 years, and the impact of their involvement with coaches …

Student-Athlete? An In-Depth Look At The Past, Present, And Future, Kyle Elliott Fluker

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The NCAA began in the early 1900s as a way to regulate the wild west that was intercollegiate athletics. Over time, the organization has grown from its 62 member beginnings to three divisions with 1,281 members. In 2017, for the first time in its history, the NCAA brought in over one billion dollars in total revenue (Kirshner 2018). The NCAA has been able to achieve this feat by its insistence on the "amateurism" of its participants. This business model has allowed the organization to keep the financial benefits associated with the playing of high-level sports on college campuses. Participants in …

Motivations Of Americans To Be Fans Of Non-U.S. Sports Teams, Trent Maurer

Sport Management Undergraduate

This research was conducted to gain a better understanding of why American sports fans chose to follow international teams and how they consumed the international sports product. The results provided can assist sports marketers learn about the various ways to expand their business internationally and the key factors that most influence non-domestic fans. By understanding fan motivations in an international context, marketers can more effectively execute their business plans when trying to sell in foreign markets. Previous information was gathered regarding fan motivations and behavior, but little was known about fandom abroad.

The data were measured through a 13 question …

Corporate Social Responsibility Authenticity: Csr Authenticity On Consumer Behavioral Intentions Toward A Sport Organization, Soyoung Joo

Doctoral Dissertations

While authenticity has been researched as a vital concept in various marketing streams, little is known in regard to consumer perceptions of authenticity in a CSR program and its effects on consumer responses. In particular, prior research on authenticity in CSR has not identified authenticity dimensions that are germane in the context of CSR in sport. The purpose of the current research is to (1) elucidate the key dimensions of CSR authenticity that are appropriate to the context of CSR in sport, (2) develop a valid and reliable instrument to measure authenticity in CSR activities in sport organizations, and (3) …

A Phenomenological Study: Coping Skills Of Gay Men In Amateur Sports, Jesuel Alamo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The world of sports has traditionally been known for promoting masculine behaviors, including a resistance to homosexuality. Research supports that gay men in sports have historically encountered prejudice and discrimination. Although the social climate has experienced change regarding homophobic discrimination and prejudice, research shows that challenges still exist for gay men who participate in sports; furthermore, to date, research could not be located that addresses the coping skills of gay men in amateur sports. This research addressed the lack of qualitative studies on the experiences of gay men who participate in amateur sports and on their use of coping skills. …

A Comprehensive Study Of Leadership Styles And Various Factors Contributing To The Success Of Athletic Teams, Christopher P. Intoppa

Selected Honors Theses

This paper involved a study of leadership styles in the realm of athletics. Using literature that had been written on the subject and examinations of particularly successful coaches over time, an accurate determination of leadership styles, qualities, and characteristics that contribute to success was able to be achieved. It was concluded that transformational leadership styles are explicitly profitable when dealing with athletes at any level of athletic competition. However, it was also discovered through research that these qualities are even more valuable if paired with an authoritative style of delivering instruction, mutual respect between coaches and players, and discipline by …

Sport, Twitter Hashtags And The Public Sphere, Brendan O'Hallarn

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Sport and social media researchers have been challenged to go beyond simply analyzing the content of public social media posts, and to incorporate different critical frameworks to seek more meaningful findings about these relatively new online phenomena. This three-paper format dissertation attempts to frame interactions through sport-themed Twitter hashtags sociologically by incorporating a critical theory rarely deployed in the study of sport—the public sphere. In paper one, the study introduces a theoretical model which suggests sport consumption patterns and the unique architecture of Twitter can promote public sphere-like discourse in hashtags connected to sport. The model suggests amplifiers and barriers …

Leveling The Playing Field? A Content Analysis Of Espn.Com And Espnw.Com’S Online Coverage, Rachael Caldwell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory study was to compare sports coverage provided by the male-centric website ESPN.com and its affiliated female-centric website ESPNW.com. The amount and type of coverage provided for female athletes was the primary focus of this study. Results suggest that ESPNW.com provides an outlet for increased coverage of women’s sports, but the type of coverage provided to female athletes is not equivalent to that of their male counterparts. These results supported findings in previous studies on mass media coverage of women’s sports, specifically coverage on the emerging field of Internet coverage.

Analyzing Twitter Usage Differences Between Student Season Ticket Buyers And Non-Buyers, Matthew Aloysius Kinney

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the importance of social media to college students as it relates to purchasing game tickets. More specifically, the thesis examines the role that Twitter and marketing play in purchase intentions of students that actually purchase tickets. The results demonstrate that those who have purchased a ticket membership package are more likely to follow said organization on Twitter. Results also found that no significant difference exists in Twitter Intensity based on whether or not a student has purchased a ticket membership package.

Women's Professional Sports: A Case Study On Practices That Could Increase Their Profitability, Danielle H. Mcardle

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Women’s professional sports leagues have often been considered a risky business endeavor. Critics cite low attendance, lack of sponsorships, lack of media rights deals, and numerous other reasons for why women’s professional sports leagues are not profitable. In analyzing the current landscape of women’s professional sport leagues, this paper uses a case study approach to develop a strategy that will highlight lessons learned from past women’s professional sports leagues, current professional sports leagues, sponsorship agreements, fans, social, digital, and mobile marketing strategies, and management practices to show how the business of women’s sports could be made into a more profitable …

Campus Knowledge Of Esports, Kenny Sugishita

Theses and Dissertations

This research study investigates private college and university admission’s officers levels of familiarity of the electronic sports (eSports) industry along with determining the level of emphasis universities place on academics and co-curricular activities. A thorough examination of the professional eSports space is extensively detailed providing information about the history of video games, the development of professional eSports, and the development of collegiate eSports. Additionally, examination of trends in higher education, especially as it relates to private institutions, is explained in detail. With the eSports industry continuing to expand, this study is timely as small private colleges and universities are searching …

Examining Official Supporter Groups: A Case Study Of The Cal Poly Men's Soccer Program, Kevin Mould

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Official supporter groups are a critical component of any athletic program. One sport in which this concept is particularly apparent is soccer, a large part of the athletic culture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In order for these supporter groups to function at their highest level, they must be continually evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the official supporter groups of the Cal Poly Men’s Soccer program. Data were collected online from websites and social media outlets associated with each of Cal Poly Soccer’s official supporter groups, the Green Army and the Manglers. The instrument used …

A Social Media Plan For The Ultimate Fighting Championship, Matthew Radmanovich

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Social media has revolutionized marketing and communication and has changed the way many organizations do business. In sports, it has facilitated fans getting closer to the action while allowing management to be strategic and more efficient with finite amount of resources. It has allowed sports to get in the business of “relationship marketing” (Gronroos, 2004). That is, when a game ends or a season comes to a close, social media allows for the fostering of long term relationships and continues to build a sense of community. The marriage of social media and relationship marketing cannot be overlooked. Whereas 30 years …

Celebrity Athlete Endorser Effectiveness: Construction And Validation Of A Scale, Theodore Byrne Peetz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The use of celebrity athletes as endorsers has become a popular marketing strategy. Celebrity athletes are often used to endorse products because it is believed they positively impact brand attitudes (Friedman & Friedman, 1979; Kamins, et. al., 1989; Till, Stanley, Priluck, 2008) and fostering brand loyalty (Bush, et. al., 2004). In addition, celebrity athletes are used to help a company differentiate their products and build instant name recognition (Henriks, 1996). This dissertation explored factors associated with celebrity endorser effectiveness. The conceptual framework for this study was grounded by the Source Credibility Model (Hovland, Janis, & Kelley, 1953; Hovland & Weiss, …

The Positive And Negative Economic Contributions Of Mega-Sporting Events To Local Communities, Qi Gong

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine the factors of mega-sporting events those contribute to positive economic impact as well as the factors that may negatively impact a community. Based on reviewing existing literature and data, the positive and negative contributions, a community may have through a hosting sporting event, will be discussed. The objective of this paper is focused on the economic impact that happened to the local communities.

Marketing Sports To Women, Jennifer A. Sloan

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Competitive Team Sports For Women In Lae, New Guinea, Marilyn A. Moore

All Master's Theses

What has taken place through the years that brought organized team sports for women to the present popular position in Lae, New Guinea cannot be known until historical happenings that led to the situation are compiled. A documentation of women's team sports in Lae may provide general information for a greater understanding of the connection between sport and culture as well as specific information relating to women's sports and culture in Lae. This study will add another facet to the history of sports for women. Without such a record it is probable that this information would be irretrievably lost. It …