Recommended Citation
Postprint version. Published in European Sport Management Quarterly, Volume 6, Issue 3, September 1, 2006, pages 253-265.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1080/16184740601095016.
Abstract
Team identification, the degree to which an individual feels psychologically linked to a team, has been a focal point in studies of sport fans and sport spectatorship (e.g. Fink et al., 2002; Jones, 1997; Wann & Branscombe, 1993; Wann & Dolan, 1994; Wann & Schrader, 1997). Although the development of team identification has been examined extensively in established sport markets, the purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between sport fan team identification and motivations for initially becoming a fan of a new mid-level professional sport in a new market. A convenience sample of spectators (N=351) at an American Arena Football League (AFL) game completed a survey designed to identify and measure this relationship. A simultaneous multiple regression analysis revealed significant and positive predictive value for team identification from the following reasons for becoming a fan: parents and/or family (β=.125, p< .05), born and/or live in area (β=.210, p<.001), players and/or coaches (β=.411, p=.001), and tailgating and party atmosphere (β=.123, p
Disciplines
Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration
Copyright
2006 Taylor & Francis. This is an electronic version of an article published in European Sport Management Quarterly.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/rpta_fac/22