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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Football Spectatorship<br />

<strong>Challenges</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Era</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Globalization</strong><br />

Edited by Emmanuel Obuah<br />

Sport has become an <strong>in</strong>tegral part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> modern society. There has been an upsurge <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

commercialisation <strong>of</strong> sport. In South Africa, soccer is arguably <strong>the</strong> most popular sport, recreationally,<br />

economically as well as regard<strong>in</strong>g active and passive participants (Dubihlela, Dhurup & Surujlal,<br />

2009:155). Over <strong>the</strong> years South African National team (Bafana-Bafana) used to fill <strong>the</strong> stadiums full to<br />

capacity. This was <strong>the</strong> period when Bafana-Bafana won <strong>the</strong> 1996 African Nations Cup, but for <strong>the</strong> past<br />

seven years major decl<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> spectators has been observed. The fall <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> FIFA rank<strong>in</strong>gs for Bafana-<br />

Bafana s<strong>in</strong>ce 1996 African Cup <strong>of</strong> Nations saw a correspond<strong>in</strong>g drop <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> attendance <strong>of</strong> spectators up<br />

until South Africa hosted <strong>the</strong> 2009 Confederations. (McDonald, Milne & Hong, 2002:100) declare that<br />

develop<strong>in</strong>g an understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> who sport consumers are and what factors <strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>the</strong>ir consumption<br />

behaviour is critical to reach<strong>in</strong>g this need. National teams <strong>in</strong>herit automatic support from <strong>the</strong>ir national<br />

citizens; however this does not guarantee full attendance at stadiums. Attract<strong>in</strong>g people to sport<strong>in</strong>g events<br />

is a major avenue for many sports teams to <strong>in</strong>crease revenue and dist<strong>in</strong>guish <strong>the</strong>mselves from o<strong>the</strong>r teams<br />

(Yus<strong>of</strong> & See, 2008:132). Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Kim & Chalip (2003:695) large sports events such as <strong>the</strong> 2010<br />

world cup, <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> event should be derived from <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> fan motivation, background <strong>of</strong><br />

spectators as well as <strong>the</strong>ir motivation to travel. Enterta<strong>in</strong>ment, self esteem, and economic motivations<br />

were strongly related to passive participation <strong>in</strong> soccer activities (Cohen & Avrahami, 2005:419). Athletic<br />

directors and sport marketers need to understand <strong>the</strong> factors that <strong>in</strong>fluence an <strong>in</strong>dividual’s decision to<br />

purchase tickets and attend sport<strong>in</strong>g events (Rob<strong>in</strong>son & Trail, 2005:58). It is beneficial for football<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istrators, marketers and sponsors to understand as well as to know whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> motives <strong>of</strong><br />

spectators attend<strong>in</strong>g games are similar or different between male and female spectators and also between<br />

Black Africans and White Africans spectators.<br />

This study <strong>in</strong>tends on build<strong>in</strong>g from previous researches which were undertaken on spectatorship and<br />

motivation. Among those studies were fan motivation (Correia & Esteves, 2007:572), Wann, Schrader &<br />

Wilson, 1999:114, Hong, McDonald, Yoon & Fujimoto, 2005:145), fan attitude (Funk & James, 2004:1),<br />

team popularity and fan support (Cunn<strong>in</strong>gham & Kwon, 2003:127), fan attendance (Hill & Green,<br />

2000:145; Greenste<strong>in</strong> & Marcum, 1981:21; Krohn, Clarke, Preston, McDonald and Preston, 1998:277),<br />

fan loyalty (Hill & Green, 2000:145) and sport consumption behaviour (Trail & James, 2001:108).<br />

There has never been a research <strong>in</strong> South Africa that took <strong>in</strong>to account <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> spectators let alone<br />

identifies <strong>the</strong> motivation <strong>of</strong> soccer spectators. Advertis<strong>in</strong>g companies, media and sponsors saw a loophole<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry hence <strong>the</strong>y play a significant role <strong>of</strong> try<strong>in</strong>g to pull crowd to <strong>the</strong> stadiums. Sponsors use<br />

different sport<strong>in</strong>g activities that draw maximum number <strong>of</strong> fans as a vehicle for reach<strong>in</strong>g out to o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

consumers. Sport Interest Inventory (SII) is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> scientific tools that have been used to <strong>in</strong>vestigate<br />

<strong>the</strong> motivation <strong>of</strong> spectators. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Neale and Fund (2006:308) <strong>the</strong> SII has been tested <strong>in</strong> North<br />

America, Japan and Australia. Sport spectators are a livelihood <strong>of</strong> this <strong>in</strong>dustry because teams generate<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>it from ticket sales and media maximise <strong>the</strong>ir listenership and viewership. Spectators play a very vital<br />

role <strong>in</strong> support<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> team morally as well as provid<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>in</strong>ancial stability to allow game existence. This<br />

study <strong>in</strong>tends on bridg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> gap between spectators and sport marketers.<br />

Several researchers have attempted to identify sport fans and spectators motivation. This paper looks at<br />

adapt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> 1995 Sport Fan Motivation Scale (SFMS) developed by Wann. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Wann,<br />

Schrader & Wilson (1999:1) SFMS was designed to measure <strong>the</strong> eight different motives <strong>of</strong> sport fans and<br />

later presented prelim<strong>in</strong>ary evidence that this <strong>in</strong>strument is reliable and valid. The eight fan motives will<br />

be discussed below: Eustress, it is an affirmative form <strong>of</strong> stress that enhances and energises sport fans as<br />

well as enjoys <strong>the</strong> fun and excitement presented by athletes <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> play. It keeps spectators<br />

guess<strong>in</strong>g and also on <strong>the</strong>ir toes wonder<strong>in</strong>g what is next, Self-esteem motive is associated with ego<br />

bolster<strong>in</strong>g. Spectators are able to form and ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> a positive self concept to a po<strong>in</strong>t where <strong>the</strong>y feel a<br />

sense <strong>of</strong> accomplishment when <strong>the</strong>ir team does well; Escape is seen as a form <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>rapy. Often times<br />

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