Spectators’ Participation Decisions in the Basketball Matches

Abstract

Understanding the motives of spectators to participate in a basketball match is important for increasing the number of spectators. Main purpose of this study was to analyze the selected variables that affect on spectators’ participation in basketball matches. Supporters of two Turkish professional basketball teams formed the sample of the study (n = 259). Spectators’ Participation Decision Scale was used to assess the factors that make participants decide to attend a match. Descriptive and Factorial MANOVA analyses were used in data analysis process and the analyses were conducted by IBM SPSS 22 package program. MANOVA results showed that there is a significant difference between attending type and factors (F (1, 212) = 2.83, p < .05), and two main effects were found between attending type variable and socialization opportunity (F (2, 215) = 7.19, p < .008). Results indicated that taking part in basketball organizations with friends is the most preferred attending type and spectators like to be with their friends in basketball matches. As a conclusion; in order to attract more spectators to the basketball venues, basketball managers should organize basketball venues in terms of spectators’ needs.

Keywords

• basketball; spectators; participation decision

References

1. Andreff, W., Szymanski, S., Szymanski, S. (2006). Handbook on the Economics of Sport: Edward Elgar.
2. Aycan, P., Polat, E., Uçan, Y. (2009). Takım özdeşleşme düzeyi ile profesyonel futbol müsabakalarına seyirci olarak katılım kararını etkileyen değişkenler arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi. SPORMETRE, 7(4), 169.
3. Cunningham, G. B., Kwon, H. (2003). The Theory of Planned Behaviour and Intentions to Attend a Sport Event. Sport Management Review (Sport Management Association of Australia & New Zealand), 6(2), 127-145.
4. Dhurup, M. (2010). Motivational variables that influence fan attendance in domestic rugby matches. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation & Dance, 16(2), 204-220.
5. Douvis, J. (2008). A review of attendance and non-attendance studies at sporting events. Biology of Exercise, 4, 5-20.
6. Falls, G. A., Natke, P. A. (2014). College football attendance: a panel study of the Football Bowl Subdivision. Applied Economics, 46(10), 1093-1107. doi: 10.1080/00036846.2013.866208
7. Farrell, A., Fink, J. S., Fields, S. (2011). Women's Sport Spectatorship: An Exploration of Men's Influence. Journal of Sport Management, 25(3), 190-201.
8. Ferreira, M., Armstrong, K. L. (2004). An Exploratory Examination of Attributes Influencing Students' Decisions to Attend College Sport Events. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 13(4), 194- 208.

9. Gençer, R. T., Aycan, A. (2008). Seyircilerin Profesyonel Futbol Müsabakalarına Katılım Kararını Etkileyen Değişkenler Üzerine Bir İnceleme. Ege Akademik Bakış, 8(2), 771-783.
10. Gençer, R. T., Kiremitci, O., Boyacioglu, H. (2011). Spectator Motives and Points of Attachment: an Investigation on Professional Basketball. Journal of Human Kinetics, 30, 189-196.
11. Haber (07.01.2014). REKABET SEYİRCİ GETİRDİ, Haber 3. Retrieved from http://spor.haber3.com/rekabet-seyirci-getirdi-haberi-1435192h.htm
12. Kahle, L., Duncan, M., Dalakas, V., Aiken, D. (2001). The Social Values of Fans for Men's Versus Women's University Basketball. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 10(3), 156.
13. McMillan, D. W., Chavis, D. M. (1986). Sense of community: A definition and theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), 6-23. doi: 10.1002/1520-6629(198601)14:1<6::AID- JCOP2290140103>3.0.CO;2-I
14. Melnick, M. J. (1993). Searching for Sociability in the Stands: A Theory of Sports Spectating. Journal of Sport Management, 7(1), 44-60.
15. Milliyet. (07.01.2014). Seyirci ortalaması en yüksek ligler , Milliyet. Retrieved from http://skorer.milliyet.com.tr/seyirci-ortalamasi-en-yuksek/- /galeridetay/1706447/default.htm?PAGE=21
16. Mullin, B. J., Hardy, S., Sutton, W. A. (2007). Sport Marketing: Human Kinetics.
17. Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.
18. Pan, D. W., Gabert, T. E., McGaugh, E. C., Branvold, S. E. (1997). Factors and differential demographic effects on purchases of season tickets for intercollegiate basketball games. Journal of Sport Behavior, 20(4), 447-464.
19. Robinson, M. J., Trail, G. T., Hyungil, K. (2004). Motives and Points of Attachment of Professional Golf Spectators. Sport Management Review (Sport Management Association of Australia & New Zealand), 7(2), 167-192.
20. Salman, G. G., Giray, C. (2010). Bireylerin futbol taraftarı olmasını etkileyen güdüler ile sadakat arasındaki ilişki: Fenerbahçe taraftarları üzerine bir uygulama. Marmara Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 9(33), 89.
21. Trail, G. T., James, J. D. (2001). The Motivation Scale for Sport Consumption: Assessment of the Scale's Psychometric Properties. Journal of Sport Behavior, 24(1), 108.
22. Trail, G. T., Anderson, D. F., Fink, J. S. (2005). Consumer Satisfaction and Identity Theory: A Model of Sport Spectator Conative Loyalty. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 14(2), 98–111. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=17229558&site=ehost- live&authtype=ip,uid
23. Wann, D. L., Grieve, F. G., Zapalac, R. K., Pease, D. G. (2008). Motivational Profiles of Sport Fans of Different Sports. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 17(1), 6-19.
24. Zauhar, J. (2004). Historical perspectives of sports tourism. Journal of Sport & Tourism, 9(1), 5-101.
25. Zhang, J. J., Pease, D. G., Hui, S. C., Michaud, T. J. (1995). Variables affecting the spectator decision to attend NBA games. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 4(4), 29-39.