year 8, Issue 1 (Spring 2020)                   Ann Appl Sport Sci 2020, 8(1): 0-0 | Back to browse issues page


XML Print


Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

Shajie K, Talebpour M, Azimzadeh S M, Keshtidar M, Jabbari Nooghabi H. Spectators on the Run: Factors Affecting Football Attendance in Iranian Football Matches. Ann Appl Sport Sci 2020; 8 (1)
URL: http://aassjournal.com/article-1-733-en.html
1- Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
2- Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Sport Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran , mtalebpour@um.ac.ir
3- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract:   (6950 Views)
Background. Sport spectators are an essential part of the professional sport landscape. Spectators are important economically, because they generate revenue through ticket and concession sales, and provide ambience for broadcast televisions. Problematically, spectators’ attendance is declining in many professional leagues throughout the world.
Objectives. The current study aimed at identifying factors affecting spectators’ attendance in the Iranian Football League.
Methods. Initial data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 20 participants, with expertise in the Iranian Football League. Using Q Methodology, 50 Q-expressions were sorted by the participants. Then, Q-factor analysis was performed.
Results. The study identified seven broad factors: 1) Lack of desirable access and transportation services to/from the stadiums; 2) Defective implementation of strategic plans in federations and clubs; 3) The impact of low-quality plays and the superiority of TV services to stadium ones; 4) Inappropriate services in stadiums; 5) Inappropriate stadium atmosphere; 6) Economic problems of spectators; and, 7) Paying more attention to margins by media from the viewpoint of critics.
Conclusions. Football officials can increase the number of spectators in stadiums by systematically removing these damages from the Iranian football body, which may solve many other problems as well.
Full-Text [PDF 721 kb]   (5750 Downloads)    
  
  
APPLICABLE REMARKS
Some essential measures suggested in most of the experts’ mental models:
- To pay more attention to infrastructures and the construction of home stadiums.
- Pay more attention to the quality of matches as the main product of football.
- Strategic planning to attract and retain spectators and turning them into fanatic and loyal fans.
- Providing desired services in stadiums.
- Encouraging the atmosphere of stadiums free of immorality and aggression.
- Paying close attention to the livelihood of spectators and fans.
- Using media as a powerful tool to create the desired inclination.
- Influencing the attitude of spectators toward attending matches in stadiums.

Type of Study: Original Article | Subject: Sport Management and its related branches
Received: 2019/02/2 | Accepted: 2019/04/13

References
1. Cho H, Lee HW, Pyun DY. The influence of stadium environment on attendance intentions in spectator sport: The moderating role of team loyalty. Int J Sport Mark Spons. 2013;5(8):215-230.
2. Choi Y, Martin J, Park M, Yoh T. Motivational Factors Influencing Sport Spectator Involvement At NCAA Division II Basketball Games. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education. 2013;3(3):265-284. [DOI:10.1179/ssa.2009.3.3.265]
3. McCullough BP, Bergsgard NA, Collins A, Muhar A, Tyrväinen L. The Impact of Sport and Outdoor Recreation (Friluftsliv) on the Natural Environment-Background paper: The Swedish Foundation of Strategic Environmental Research (MISTRA); 2018.
4. Ayhan C, Ekinci NE, Yalçın İ, Yiğit Ş. Yiğit Ş. Investigation of constraints that occur during participation in leisure activities by high school students: A sample of Turkey. Education Sciences. Edu Sci. 2018;8(2):86. [DOI:10.3390/educsci8020086]
5. Gencer RT, Kiremitci O, Boyacioglu H. Spectator motives and points of attachment: an investigation on professional basketball. J Hum Kinet. 2011;30:189-196. [DOI:10.2478/v10078-011-0087-9] [PMID] [PMCID]
6. Dhurup M, Mofoka MA, Surujlal J. The relationship between stadium sportscapes dimensions, desire to stay and future attendance. Africa J Physic Health Edu Recreat Dance. 2010;16(3):475-490. [DOI:10.4314/ajpherd.v16i3.60925]
7. Donihue MR, Findlay DW, Newberry PW. An Analysis of Attendance at Major League Baseball Spring Training Games. J Sport Econ. 2016;8(1):39-61. [DOI:10.1177/1527002505276716]
8. Theodorakis ND, Alexandris K, Tsigilis N, Karvounis S. Predicting spectators' behavioural intentions in professional football: The role of satisfaction and service quality. Sport Manag Rev. 2013;16(1):85-96. [DOI:10.1016/j.smr.2012.05.004]
9. Salgado-Barandela J, Barajas Á, Sánchez-Fernández P. nts of the spending of sporting tourists: The case of attendees at professional basketball. Europ Res Manag Bus Econ. 2018;24(3):3561675. [DOI:10.1016/j.iedeen.2018.05.001]
10. Hwang J, Lee K-W. The antecedents and consequences of golf tournament spectators' memorable brand experiences. J Destination Market Manage. 2018;9(2):1-11. [DOI:10.1016/j.jdmm.2017.09.001]
11. DeSchriver TD, Jensen PE. Determinants of Spectator Attendance at NCAA Division II Football Contests. J Sport Manag. 2002;16(4):311-330. [DOI:10.1123/jsm.16.4.311]
12. Funk DC, Beaton A, Alexandris K. Sport consumer motivation: Autonomy and control orientations that regulate fan behaviours. Sport Management Review. 2012;15(3):355-367. [DOI:10.1016/j.smr.2011.11.001]
13. Alonso Dos Santos M, Montoro Rios FJ. Scale of spectators' motivations at soccer events. Soccer Soc. 2014;17(1):58-71. [DOI:10.1080/14660970.2014.891986]
14. Fink JS, Parker H, Pinson K, editors. Spectator motives: Why do we watch if our favorite team is not playing. North American Society for Sport Management Conference; 2007.
15. Caro LM, García JA. Consumer Satisfaction with a Periodic Reoccurring Sport Event and the Moderating Effect of Motivations. Sport Market Q. 2007;16(2):260-277.
16. Buraimo B. Stadium attendance and television audience demand in English league football. Managerial and Decision Economics. 2008;29(6):513-523. [DOI:10.1002/mde.1421]
17. Vallerand RJ, Ntoumanis N, Philippe FL, Lavigne GL, Carbonneau N, Bonneville A, et al. On passion and sports fans: A look at football. J Sport Sci. 2008;26(12):1279-1293. [DOI:10.1080/02640410802123185] [PMID]
18. Solberg HA, Turner P. Exporting sports rights to overseas markets: the case of European football. Sport Soc. 2010;13(2):354-366. [DOI:10.1080/17430430903523119]
19. Carvalho Md, Boen F, Sarmento JP, Scheerder J. What brings youngsters into the stadium? Sociopsychological predictors of soccer attendance among Belgian and Portuguese young fans. Revista Portuguesa de Ciências do Desporto. 2015;15(1):21-40. [DOI:10.5628/rpcd.15.01.21]
20. Ormesher L, Simcox LE, Tower C, Greer IA. 'To test or not to test', the arguments for and against thrombophilia testing in obstetrics. Obstet Med. 2017;10(2):61-66. [DOI:10.1177/1753495X17695696] [PMID] [PMCID]
21. Rodriguez-Pomeda J, Casani F, Alonso-Almeida MdM. Emotions' management within the Real Madrid football club business model. Soccer & Society. 2014;18(4):431-444. [DOI:10.1080/14660970.2014.980736]
22. Gómez González C, García Unanue J, Sánchez Sánchez J, Ubago Guisado E, del Corral J. Evidence on soccerspecific stadiums and attendance: The Major League Soccer case. Revista de psicología del deporte. 2016;25(3):19-22.
23. Glover V. Football Spectator No-Show Behavior. J Sport Econ. 2014;20(4):580-602. [DOI:10.1177/1527002518784120]
24. Baxter R, Hastings N, Law A, Glass EJ. A rapid and robust sequence-based genotyping method for BoLADRB3 alleles in large numbers of heterozygous cattle. Anim Genet. 2008;39(5):561-563. [DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2052.2008.01757.x] [PMID]
25. Brown SR. Q Technique, Method, and Methodology: Comments on Stentor Danielson's Article. Field Methods. 2009;21(3):238-241. [DOI:10.1177/1525822X09332080]
26. Yoshizawa G, Iwase M, Okumoto M, Tahara K, Takahashi S. Q Workshop: An Application of Q Methodology for Visualizing, Deliberating and Learning Contrasting Perspectives. Int J Environ Sci Edu. 2016;11(13):6277-6302.
27. Love A, Kavazis A, Morse A, Mayer K. Soccer-Specific Stadiums and Attendance in Major League Soccer: Investigating the Novelty Effect. J Applied Sports Manag. 2013;5(2):32-46. [DOI:10.2139/ssrn.2458126]
28. Bodet G, Chanavat N. Building global football brand equity: Lessons from the Chinese market. Asia Pac J Mark Logistic. 2010;22(1):55-66. [DOI:10.1108/13555851011013155]
29. Neale L, Funk D. Investigating motivation, attitudinal loyalty and attendance behaviour with fans of Australian Football. Int J Sport Mark Spons. 2006;7(4):12-22. [DOI:10.1108/IJSMS-07-04-2006-B005]
30. Zhang JJ, Smith DW, Pease DG, Mahar MT. Spectator knowledge of hockey as a significant predictor of game. Sport Mark Quar. 1996;5(3):31-48.
31. Hill B, Green BC. Repeat attendance as a function of involvement, loyalty, and the sportscape across three football contexts. Sport Manag Rev. 2000;3(2):145-162. [DOI:10.1016/S1441-3523(00)70083-0]
32. Tee DK, Preko A, Tee E. Understanding the Relationships between Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty: An Investigation of Ghana's Retail Banking Sector. British J Mark Stud. 2018;6(2):1-19.
33. Yoshida M, James JD. Service quality at sporting events: Is aesthetic quality a missing dimension? Sport Manag Rev. 2011;14(1):13-24. doi: 10.1016/j.smr.2009.06.002 34. Braun R, Vliegenthart R. The Contentious Fans. Int Soc. 2008;23(6):796-818. [DOI:10.1016/j.smr.2009.06.002]

Send email to the article author


Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

© 2024 CC BY-NC 4.0 | Annals of Applied Sport Science

Designed & Developed by : Yektaweb