Showing papers in "Journal of Sport Management in 2020"
TL;DR: The relationship between sport and the natural environment is bidirectional as discussed by the authors, and sport management scholars have explored the ways the sport industry impacts the environment through the lenses of sport sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and sport industry influence on proenvironmental behaviors.
Abstract: The relationship between sport and the natural environment is bidirectional. Since the 1990s, sport management scholars have predominately explored the ways the sport industry impacts the natural environment. They have done so through the lenses of sport sustainability (Kellison & Hong, 2015; Mallen & Chard, 2012; Mallen, Adams, Stevens, & Thompson, 2010b, Sartore-Baldwin & McCullough, 2018), corporate social responsibility (Casper, Pfahl, & McSherry, 2012; Inoue & Kent, 2012a; 2012b; Trendafilova et al., 2013), and sport industry influence on proenvironmental behaviors (Casper, Pfahl, & McCullough, 2017; Chard & Mallen, 2012; Dolf & Teehan, 2015; Kellison & Kim, 2014; McCullough, 2013; Trail, 2015; 2016). Recently, a new line of research has emerged exploring the impacts of climate change on the sport industry (Orr & Inoue, 2018) and adaptation behaviors of athletes, organizations, and fans (Bristow & Jenkins, 2018; Orr & Schneider, in press). To date, the study of sport and the natural environment has been largely disjointed, brought together solely by literature reviews (Mallen et al., 2011; Trendafilova & McCullough, 2018). This lack of cohesion stands in contrast to other subdomains of sport management such as sport marketing and sport tourism that enjoy widespread acknowledgment of their value, dedicated coursework and labs, and recognition within and across academic communities.
77 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a conceptual framework that expands the scope of environmental assessment to be more comprehensive, which can identify specific aspects of the event and the inputs and outputs of the before and after event phases that can be curtailed or modified to reduce environmental impacts of sport events.
Abstract: A paradox exists between the ways sport organizations evaluate their economic impact, compared with their environmental impact. Although the initial sustainability and corporate social responsibility efforts of sport organizations should be celebrated, it is appropriate to call for the next advancement concerning the assessment and measurement of environmental sustainability efforts in sport organizations. Specifically, there is a need for improved and increased monitoring and measurement of sustainable practices that include negative environmental externalities. To usher this advancement, the authors first reviewed the extant research and current industry practice involving environmental impact reporting in sport. Second, the authors proposed a conceptual framework that expands the scope of environmental assessment to be more comprehensive. As such, this expanded, yet more accurate, assessment of environmental impact can identify specific aspects of the event and the inputs and outputs of the before and after event phases that can be curtailed or modified to reduce environmental impacts of sport events.
44 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined women's experiences of both overt and subtle sexism in the sport industry as well as the impact such experiences have on their careers, and found that the culture of sport organizations perpetuates sexism, including the diminishment and objectification of women.
Abstract: Women remain the minority in sport organizations, particularly in leadership roles, and prior work has suggested that sexism may be to blame. This study examines women’s experiences of both overt and subtle sexism in the sport industry as well as the impact such experiences have on their careers. Based on interviews and journal entries from women managers working in a men’s professional sports league, the findings suggest that the culture of sport organizations perpetuates sexism, including the diminishment and objectification of women. Sexism occurs in women’s everyday interactions with their supervisors and coworkers, as well as others that they interact with as part of their jobs. Such experiences result in professional and emotional consequences, which women navigate by employing tactics that enable their survival in the sport industry.
38 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed the Community Sport Capacity Scale to measure the key elements of capacity in community sport organizations or clubs and investigate their relative impact on three key indicators of club performance.
Abstract: Using a multidimensional framework, the authors developed the Community Sport Capacity Scale to measure the key elements of capacity in community sport organizations or clubs and investigate their relative impact on three key indicators of club performance. Presidents or their representatives from 336 community sport organizations in 20 sports across the province of Ontario, Canada, completed the web-based survey measuring the extent of various elements of human resources, infrastructure, finance, planning, and external relationships capacity. The survey also measured club operations, programs, and community presence, identified as key performance outcomes. Controlling for club size, elements representing all five capacity dimensions were significantly associated with the outcomes. The findings highlight the rich information that may be generated from a multidimensional and context-specific perspective on organizational capacity, and indicate implications for building capacity in community sport organizations.
30 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of athlete on-field and off-field brand image on consumer commitment toward the athlete and associated team, preference by athlete's sponsor, and the mediating effect of consumers' self-brand connection on these relationships was explored.
Abstract: 37 This research explores the role of athlete on-field and off-field brand image on consumer 38 commitment toward the athlete and associated team, preference by athlete’s sponsor, and the 39 mediating effect of consumers’ self-brand connection on these relationships. Data were 40 collected from fans of soccer players through a cross-sectional survey promoted on social 41 media platforms. A partial least squares structural equation model examined the direct effects 42 of both athlete brand dimensions on athlete commitment, team commitment and athlete 43 sponsor preference, and the indirect effects mediated via self-brand connection. The results 44 indicate that athlete on-field image is significantly related to athlete sponsor preference, while 45 the off-field image influences athlete commitment and team commitment. Self-brand 46 connection is influenced by athlete off-field image, and mediates the relationship between 47 off-field image and athlete commitment. This study contributes to a better understanding of 48 how to manage athlete brands and linkages between fans, athletes and associated entities. 49 50
27 citations
TL;DR: Transforming sport service research (TSSR) as discussed by the authors seeks to understand how personal and collective well-being can be improved through a range of services offered in the sport industry, which can be seen as a form of service provision.
Abstract: The performance of sport organizations has been traditionally examined from the perspective of attaining strategic and operational goals (e.g., profitability, sporting performance). However, contemporary examples point to a need to expand sport organizations’ goals through consideration of their contributions to well-being outcomes. The current special issue addresses this need by advancing the theoretical and empirical understanding of transformative sport service research (TSSR), which seeks to understand how personal and collective well-being can be improved through a range of services offered in the sport industry. This introduction article clarifies the scope of TSSR scholarship and then provides a synthesis of findings and implications from the eight articles included in the special issue. The overview concludes with a call for collective efforts to establish a focused body of knowledge that leads sport organizations to integrate the goal of optimizing consumer and employee well-being into the core of their operations.
27 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a study was conducted to examine how collegiate sport services could use academic psychological capital (PsyCap) and student-athlete engagement to promote school satisfaction and psychological well-being.
Abstract: The quality of a student-athlete’s experience can be a product of the services provided by their sponsoring sport organization. In an attempt to improve the student-athlete experience, this study was positioned to examine how collegiate sport services could use academic psychological capital (PsyCap) and student-athlete engagement to promote school satisfaction and psychological well-being. A total of 248 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes participated in this study. Results indicated that academic classification moderated academic PsyCap’s influence on engagement. In addition, the academic PsyCap of the student-athletes positively influenced school satisfaction and psychological well-being, but student-athlete engagement fully mediated the relationship between academic PsyCap and psychological well-being. This empirical evidence provides new knowledge on the relationships among student-athletes’ motivational cognitive constructs, educational engagement, school satisfaction, and psychological well-being in the context of highly competitive collegiate sports. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, including incorporating the results with services provided to student-athletes.
25 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used multilevel egocentric network analysis to examine the consumption networks of National Football League fans over the course of one season, and found that emotional support depends on the interpersonal ties and network structures within which sport fans are embedded.
Abstract: Sport management researchers have increasingly noted a relationship between sport spectatorship and well-being, with the line of inquiry predicated on transformative sport service research. In this study, the authors contribute to transformative sport service research by utilizing multilevel egocentric network analysis to examine the consumption networks of National Football League fans over the course of one season. The authors utilized a network theory approach to explore how emotional support is created and embedded within sport fans’ networks of interpersonal ties and social relationships. Through multilevel modeling, the authors highlighted how attributes of both the ego (i.e., focal actor) and alter (i.e., individual with whom ego shares a tie) affect emotional support. Previous studies of transformative sport service research and the link between well-being outcomes and sport spectatorship have implicitly examined only ego-level attributes (i.e., team identification), yet the present work suggests that emotional support depends on the interpersonal ties and network structures within which sport fans are embedded.
19 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined the determinants of Major League Soccer team attendance during the league's recent era of growth and found that regular-season on-field performance is positively associated with attendance, but the returns to success are diminishing.
Abstract: This study examines the determinants of Major League Soccer team attendance during the league’s recent era of growth. Estimates indicate that regular-season on-field performance is positively associated with attendance, but the returns to success are diminishing. Positive novelty effects are identified for newer teams and soccer-specific stadiums but not for stadium age. Income is positively associated with attendance, indicating that MLS matches are a normal good. Population size, the Hispanic share of population, the presence of other major-league franchises, and the number of designated players on a team do not appear to be strong determinants of seasonal attendance.
18 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a longitudinal trend study was designed to describe temporal variations in Rio residents' support for the 2016 Olympic Games and in the relationship between perceptions of legacies and support of the event.
Abstract: The purpose of this research was to describe temporal variations in Rio residents’ support for the 2016 Olympic Games and in the relationship between perceptions of legacies and support for the event. Drawing on social exchange theory, perceptions (expectations and evaluations) of tangible, intangible, and environmental legacies should affect support intentions. A longitudinal trend study was designed. Four multistage stratified random samples of Rio residents were surveyed in 2012 (n = 900), 2014 (n = 900), 2016 (n = 723), and 2018 (n = 550). Results showed that perceptions of legacies and support for Rio 2016 Olympic Games decreased progressively from 2012 to 2018. In the early stages of preparation (2012 and 2014), expectations of intangible and environmental legacies were predictors of support. In the year of the event and 2 years after the event, perceptions of tangible legacies were predictors of support. Longitudinal findings show that, to gain support, organizers promise unattainable legacies, which then lead to dwindling support, as they fail to deliver them. Findings suggest that organizers’ plans and actions of sport mega-events must change.
17 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a brand community analysis was conducted to examine the multiple identities and patterns of interactions among members of an official soccer supporters club, based on the Multiple In-Group Identity Framework and the brand community triad, and the authors differentiated between team and supporter club identity to explore how each affects consumption behaviors.
Abstract: In this brand community analysis, the authors utilized both the social identity approach and network theory to examine the multiple identities and patterns of interactions among members of an official soccer supporters club. Based on the Multiple In-Group Identity Framework and the brand community triad, the authors differentiated between team and supporter club identity to explore how each affects consumption behaviors. Furthermore, the authors explored the nature of fan relationships based on network principles of multiplexity and homophily as they relate to consumption and socializing ties among fan club members. They also explored the network structure of the brand community. Using both network theory and network methodologies, the authors examined how the multiple identities and many relationships within the brand community affect the consumption behaviors of fan club members. Theoretical and practical implications were considered as they relate to sport consumer behavior and sport marketing.
TL;DR: This paper conducted interviews with fans of a professional women's basketball team to understand the psychological meaning of team among individuals who identify with a women's sport team, and found that central elements of team meaning were gender equality (contributing to social change) and pure sport (perceptions of game play and player characteristics).
Abstract: To date, almost all team identification inquiries have focused on men’s sport, with minimal studies using women’s sport to examine the concept. Recognizing social identities are fluid and context dependent, the purpose of the current study was to understand the psychological meaning of team among individuals who identify with a women’s sport team. Using an interpretive mode of inquiry, the author conducted interviews with fans of a professional women’s basketball team. Central elements of team meaning were gender equality (contributing to social change) and pure sport (perceptions of game play and player characteristics). These aspects jointly contribute to a paradox experienced by fans, in that perceived purity may be sacrificed in realizing social change. Theoretical implications include the ability of teams to represent social movement organizations, as well as the need for individuals to shed status-irrelevant aspects of an identity to raise a low-status group.
TL;DR: This article examined how community measures intersect with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender inclusiveness to predict organizational success and found that performance was highest when the department followed an inclusive strategy.
Abstract: Drawing from concepts in institutional theory, the purpose of this study was to examine how community measures intersect with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender inclusiveness to predict organizational success. The authors collected publicly available data about National Collegiate Athletic Association departments (N = 65) and their communities. Moderated regression analyses demonstrated significant interactive effects, such that performance was highest when the department followed an inclusive strategy and (a) the lesbian, gay, and bisexual population density was high and (b) the state-level implicit bias toward sexual minorities was low. Importantly, there were no negative effects in following an inclusive strategy, even when institutional logics did not prescribe such an approach. The models explained 60–62% of the variance in performance. The authors discuss theoretical and practical implications.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined whether customer knowledge management (CKM) predicts consumers' intention to use sport services and found that both CKM and psychological involvement had positive indirect effects on consumers' intentions of using sport services through perceived value and commitment.
Abstract: Despite the increasing importance of customer knowledge management (CKM) as a strategic resource for sport service organizations, little sport management research has examined the link between CKM and consumers’ intention to use sport services. Using the psychological continuum model as the theoretical framework, this study examines whether CKM predicts consumers’ intention to use sport services. Participants (N = 686) were recruited from nonprofit sports clubs in Urmia, Iran. Structural equation modeling results revealed positive relationships between CKM, psychological involvement, perceived value, commitment, and intention to use. Furthermore, both CKM and psychological involvement had positive indirect effects on intention to use through perceived value and commitment. Findings from this study highlight the importance of psychological involvement and perceived value in promoting intention to use sport services at nonprofit sports clubs and CKM’s role as a key antecedent.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used egocentric network analysis to predict renewal decisions among college football season-ticket holders, including relational and behavioral characteristics of sport fans. But they focused on season ticket churn and renewal, and did not consider the role of socializing agents and social connections in sport fan consumption.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to utilize egocentric network analysis to predict repurchase behaviors for college football season-ticket holders. Using a research approach grounded in network theory, we included the relational and behavioral characteristics of sport fans in a binomial regression model to predict renewal decisions among college football season-ticket holders. More specifically, we developed a model that incorporates the egocentric network variables, past behavior, and behavioral intentions to empirically test which consumer characteristics predict future behavior. Building on previous research emphasizing the role of socializing agents and social connections in sport fan consumption, through the use of egocentric network analysis, we examined the effects of social structure and social context on repurchasing decisions. Moreover, the present study is positioned within the larger discourse on season-ticket holders, as we aimed to add a network theory perspective to the existing research on season-ticket holder churn and renewal.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the relationships between key constructs (satisfaction, motivation, commitment, and sense of community) and the first author's (E.L. Lachance) volunteer experience in a para-sport event.
Abstract: Sport event volunteers have predominantly been examined in able-bodied events using quantitative methods. Studies examining the volunteer experience have focused on its relationship with different constructs, resulting in a siloed body of literature in which a holistic understanding of the volunteer experience remains poor. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between key constructs (satisfaction, motivation, commitment, and sense of community) and the first author’s (E.L. Lachance) volunteer experience in a para-sport event. The analysis of the narrative using a volunteer experience conceptual framework composed of the key volunteer constructs identified two themes: (a) the power of sense of community and (b) the volunteer role as a source of dissatisfaction. Contributions include the volunteer experience conceptual framework and the relationships between the four constructs and the volunteer experience. Event managers should implement strategies to create a strong sense of community to enhance their volunteers’ experience.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the effects of socioeconomic factors on elite athletes' well-being in less commercialized sports and provided comparisons with residents of similar age (18-30 years).
Abstract: Given the increasing importance of athlete well-being in the sport policy debate, this study investigated the effects of socioeconomic factors on elite athletes’ well-being in less commercialized sports and provides comparisons with residents of similar age (18–30 years). This study used survey data from athletes who are supported by the German Sports Aid Foundation (n = 709) and from the German Socio-Economic Panel, containing comparable variables for residents (n = 2,455). Subjective well-being was measured with life satisfaction as a whole and satisfaction with important domains in life, including health, income, leisure time, and family life. The athletes scored lower on all well-being measures compared with young residents. The regression analyses revealed significant differences between athletes and young residents with regard to the effects of age, income, education, and sport hours on different well-being dimensions, suggesting that more needs to be done that the athletes’ investments into sport and education yield well-being benefits.
TL;DR: McGarry as mentioned in this paper highlighted impact on practice and impact through being explicit about the ways gender and race affect what we deem to have impact, and provided examples of where we could disrupt the structures that work to maintain the status quo in terms of impact.
Abstract: In her 2019 Earle F. Zeigler address, Jennifer McGarry drew on the 2017 Academy of Management Report “Measuring and Achieving Scholarly Impact” to examine how the field of sport management and the North American Society for Sport Management operationalize impact. She pointed to a broader, more inclusive, and critical examination of impact. McGarry highlighted impact on practice and impact through being explicit, particularly about the ways gender and race affect what we deem to have impact. Finally, she spoke to impact through individual and collective action, such as educating students, scholarship, and policy and advocacy. She provided examples of where we could disrupt the structures that work to maintain the status quo in terms of impact—the in-groups and the out-groups, the metrics and evaluations. She also gave examples of impact that have happened, that are happening, and that can happen even more.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the development of brand associations and team identification among fans of a new team to measure the impact the team's brand held in the development process of new fans.
Abstract: The role of brand associations and team identity in the sport management literature has received significant attention; however, there exists opportunities to investigate the way they impact one another over time. The authors examined the development of brand associations and team identification among fans of a new team to measure the impact the team’s brand held in the development of new fans. Longitudinal quantitative data were collected from fans of a new professional baseball team (N = 119) across three points during the team’s inaugural season. Using multilevel growth curve modeling, unconditional growth curve models provided evidence of the development and change of brand associations and team identification, while conditional growth curve models evaluated the percentage of change in team identity explained by the changes in each brand association. The findings provide evidence of brand associations as drivers in the development of team identification among fans of a new team.
TL;DR: In this article, the causal effect of different voluntary roles in sport on individuals' subjective well-being was examined using data from 28 European countries (n=52,957).
Abstract: This study examines the causal effect of different voluntary roles in sport on individuals’
subjective well-being. Theoretically, volunteering can affect well-being through various
mechanisms, including enjoyment, new contacts, skill development, exercising altruism, and
relational goods. The empirical analysis uses data from 28 European countries (n=52,957).
Subjective well-being is measured with self-reported life satisfaction. The number of
administrative roles (e.g. board or committee member, administrative tasks), sport-related
roles (e.g. coach, instructor, referee), and operational roles (e.g. organise a sport event,
provide transport) capture volunteering. The results of linear regression models support the
positive relationship between volunteering and subjective well-being as evident in existing
research. However, instrumental variable estimates reveal that only the number of operational
roles has a significant positive effect on well-being, while the effects of administrative and
sport-related roles are jointly significantly negative. The findings of this study have
implications for sport organisations and policy makers.
TL;DR: In this article, a framework illustrating the end-to-end integrated marketing communications function as implemented by governing bodies as a form of not-for-profit sporting organizations is presented and tested.
Abstract: Relationship marketing through digital forms of integrated marketing communications can provide sport organizations with a range of positive outcomes. Given decreasing participation, membership and funding pressures, sport organizations need to engage with current and prospective consumers to alleviate these concerns. Drawing on existing research in the digital communications setting, a framework illustrating the end to end integrated marketing communications function as implemented by governing bodies as a form of not-for-profit sporting organizations is presented and tested. Satisfaction with integrated marketing communications was shown to have a direct effect on relationship quality and behavioral intentions, including revenue raising, increasing participation, raising awareness, and enhancing public perception providing practical and theoretical benefits.
TL;DR: This paper analyzed how interorganizational relationships are utilized by different nonprofit youth sport organizations in one American context and found that high-resource organizations primarily utilize philanthropic and transactional forms of collaboration, whereas integrative collaboration is more likely among low-resource organisations.
Abstract: Interorganizational relationships are a well-established practice among nonprofit youth sport organizations seeking to acquire key resources and improve service efficiencies. However, less is known about how broader trends in the nonprofit sector influence their utilization. Guided by Austin’s collaborative continuum and resource dependency theory, this study analyzed how interorganizational relationships are utilized by different nonprofit youth sport organizations in one American context. The results indicate that high-resource organizations primarily utilize philanthropic and transactional forms of collaboration, whereas integrative collaboration is more likely among low-resource organizations. The discussion draws on resource dependency theory to provide theoretical insight into this association, as well as the implications for collaborative value generated through interorganizational relationships.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an autoethnography of a parent attempting to subvert the traditional role of parent-spectator by engaging in "sideline" physical activity simultaneous to her child's sport.
Abstract: Parents are central stakeholders within the youth sport context, yet their own health and well-being can be compromised due to the extensive commitment required to support their child’s sport development. Against a backdrop of transformative sport service research and eudaimonic well-being, the study presents an autoethnography of my experience as a parent attempting to subvert the traditional role of parent–spectator by engaging in “sideline” physical activity simultaneous to my child’s sport. A secondary purpose is to identify the program and facility design attributes within the community sport environment that facilitate or inhibit the well-being of parents via simultaneous participation. This study highlights how the lines between researcher and subject can be blurred to challenge taken-for-granted assumptions and strengthen well-being through mastery, autonomy, personal growth, interpersonal relations, and self-acceptance. Through lived experience and personal voice, I hope that my story will open new possibilities for transformative practices within community sport.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the leadership development practices adopted by key stakeholders of the Australian sports industry, with the intention to uncover how they impact the role of women in different organizations.
Abstract: There has been growing interest in gender diversity and the leadership development of women in recent years within the broader field of management studies. Understanding leadership development processes is important for the sport industry, in which organizations are becoming increasingly professional and commercially focused. Despite the increased attention on gender diversity and leadership development within the sport industry to date, the scope and application of organizational gender and leadership development theory within an Australian sport context has been limited. As such, the purpose of this study was to explore the leadership development practices adopted by key stakeholders of the Australian sports industry, with the intention to uncover how they impact the role of women in different organizations. Specifically, the research investigated the practices of three organizations that have a major stake in Australian professional sport.
TL;DR: The authors examined how two key characteristics of sports fan communities (relative size and homogeneity) influence potential fans' perceptions and intentions to support the team and found that the relative size of fan communities created a two-way interaction effect on potential fans’ support intentions.
Abstract: The purpose of the current study was to examine how two key characteristics of sports fan communities—relative size and homogeneity (behavioral similarity among fans)—influence potential fans’ perceptions and intentions to support the team. Study 1 showed that relative size and homogeneity created a two-way interaction effect on potential fans’ support intentions, such that the low-homogeneity fan community resulted in greater support intentions in the minority condition, whereas the high-homogeneity fan community resulted in greater support intentions in the majority condition. Study 2 revealed a boundary condition of this interaction effect: The interaction effect disappeared when potential fans had extremely low levels of involvement with watching the sport. Study 3 showed that potential fans’ perceptions regarding similarity to fans and social pressure mediated the effect of relative size on their support intentions.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used social role theory to investigate gender differences in volunteers at the Special Olympics and interrelationships among motivations, commitment, and social capital, finding that participants primarily volunteered for personal growth.
Abstract: This research uses social role theory to investigate gender differences in volunteers at the Special Olympics and interrelationships among motivations, commitment, and social capital. Volunteers at the 2014 National Summer Special Olympics in Germany were surveyed (n = 891). Multigroup structural equation modeling has revealed gender differences among motivations, commitment, and social capital. Volunteers primarily volunteered for personal growth. Further, motivations had a significant association with commitment and social capital. The impact of motivation on social capital was significantly mediated by commitment. Event organizers should market opportunities to volunteer by emphasizing opportunities for personal growth and appealing to specific values
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used social worlds as a framework to determine the relationship between event travel career progression with travel behavior and related intentions, and found that differences in social worlds immersion would be present based on event participation, travel party conditions, flow-on tourism activities, and repeat/revisit intentions.
Abstract: Using social worlds as a framework, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between event travel career progression with travel behavior and related intentions. As such, this study has depicted the evolving behaviors and preferences of active sport tourists in an effort to improve the localized impact of events. Using previous research on social worlds and active sport event travel careers, the authors have hypothesized that differences in social worlds immersion would be present based on event participation, travel party conditions, flow-on tourism activities, and repeat/revisit intentions, as well as differences in flowon tourism activities based on travel conditions. In partnership with a large running festival in the Midwest United States, data were collected and analyzed to test these hypotheses (N = 2,219). The results indicated support for the hypotheses previously outlined. Theoretical contributions to the study of active sport tourism and practical implications for the management of events and destinations are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the complexities of lesbian parents' experiences in organized youth sport programs are examined, focusing on how the lesbian parents negotiate heightened visibility, sexual stigma, and parental judgment; foster social relationships through participation, volunteerism, and positive role models; and create shared understanding toward building an inclusive sport culture.
Abstract: This interpretative study examines the complexities of lesbian parents’ experiences in organized youth sport programs. Specifically, it seeks to understand youth sport as a potential site for social change that facilitates a sense of inclusive community for diverse family structures. Using thematic analysis, the author examines perspectives of nine participants from Australia, Canada, and the United States. Emphasis is placed on how the lesbian parents (a) negotiate heightened visibility, sexual stigma, and parental judgment; (b) foster social relationships through participation, volunteerism, and positive role models; and (c) create shared understanding toward building an inclusive sport culture. The findings call attention to the importance of intentional and unintentional acts (by families as well as sport organizations) that create a sense of community and an inclusive organizational culture. The connection of lesbian parents’ experiences to broader concepts, such as sexual stigma and transformative services, are also examined within the context of youth sport.
TL;DR: This paper examined how new parent sport fans negotiate their multiple identities and how parenthood impacts individuals' sport fandom with 27 sport fans with young children (i.e., individuals presently raising children of age 0-6 years).
Abstract: Scholars have begun exploring how parenthood impacts individuals’ sport fandom. Limited work to date, however, has considered such a question in light of new parenthood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine how new parent sport fans negotiate their multiple identities. To this end, I completed semi-structured long interviews with 27 sport fans with young children (i.e., individuals presently raising children of age 0–6 years). Drawing on the social–psychological foundations of identity theory, I examined these new parents’ salience hierarchy negotiation. I identified and analyzed two consumer groups: Maintainers (who have sustained the centrality of their fan identity despite a change in life circumstances) and Modifiers (who have “de-escalated” their fandom). These new parents’ voices are used to guide the findings. This study advances the theoretical understanding of how parenthood impacts fandom and illuminates how the sport industry can optimally serve new parent sport fans.