Title: Perceptions of highly identified fans regarding rival teams in US intercollegiate football and men's basketball

Authors: Cody T. Havard; Lamar Reams; Dianna P. Gray

Addresses: The University of Memphis, 304 Elma Roane Fieldhouse, Memphis, TN 38125, USA ' Old Dominion University, 2015 Student Recreation Ctr, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA ' University of Northern Colorado, Gunter Hall 2620, Campus Box 39, Greeley, CO 80639, USA

Abstract: Havard et al. (2013) developed and validated the sport rivalry fan perception scale (SRFPS) as a way to measure fan perceptions of four aspects regarding a rival team (indirect competition, academic prestige, sportsmanship, sense of satisfaction through direct competition). The current study investigated differences in SRFPS subscale mean scores of highly-identified intercollegiate football and men's basketball fans in the USA regarding type of favourite team, proximity to favourite team, season ticket holder status of favourite team, and the outcome of the most recent rivalry contest. A series of MANCOVAs indicated that favourite team (football or basketball), season ticket holder status, and outcome of the most recent rivalry contest contributed to significant differences in rival perceptions after controlling for team identification. Discussion focuses on implications of these findings for academics and practitioners, as well as areas for future research.

Keywords: sports rivalry; fan psychology; fan behaviour; intercollegiate athletics; sport management; sport marketing; sports fans; fan perceptions; basketball fans; rival teams; USA; United States; fan perception scale; indirect competition; academic prestige; sportsmanship; sense of satisfaction; direct competition; team identification; supporters.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2013.060628

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2013 Vol.14 No.1/2/3/4, pp.116 - 132

Received: 06 Feb 2013
Accepted: 24 Aug 2013
Published online: 05 Jul 2014 *

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