International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing (6 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Mapping the Judo Sports Ecosystem: Proposition and Analysis  
  by Aline Marian Callegaro, Ana Paula Kloeckner, Felipe Magno, Ricardo A. Cassel, Rosiane Serrano, Daniel Pacheco Lacerda 
  Abstract: The sport sector interacts with various segments and industrial and commercial sectors. Thus, we infer that sport comprises an ecosystem, as it gathers a community of economic actors. From this perspective, mapping and understanding the operation of the Judo Ecosystem is of great interest. This study uses exploratory field research as the procedure. A model was built and validated through expert interviews from sports modality and ecosystem theme. The findings showed that the sports system as a whole does not obey a flow, since the objects in it are of different natures. The validation of the model shows its economic importance and the ecosystem actors must understand that they are part of a business ecosystem. As the actors take initiatives based on knowledge, sports practice occupy a more significant share of the Brazilian GDP. The need for professionalisation of actors to enable efficient, qualified management of each participant.
  Keywords: judo ecosystem; sport; economic sector; business ecosystem; model.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2023.10061421
   
  
• The effects of a sport team's involvement regarding corporate social responsibility on fans' pride and intention to donate: The moderating effects of urgency with involvement  
  by Jaewon Chang, Jeeyoon Kim, Daniel Connaughton, Kyoung Tae Kim, Stephen Gonzalez 
  Abstract: Sport teams try to involve their fans in their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to maximise CSR effects, and this study suggests that delivering the urgency of CSR should enhance the effects of fan involvement. For this purpose, this study used panel data to examine the impacts of fan involvement and urgent messages regarding CSR on pride and intention to donate. This study administered an experimental survey and developed four different visual aids and newsfeeds (yes or no regarding: a) fan involvement and b) the urgency of the sport team's CSR activity) to manipulate fan involvement and urgency. The results showed fan involvement could be positively related to pride, and a significant direct two-way ANOVA result regarding fan involvement and urgency to intention to donate was found. Comprehensively, the authors proposed a theoretical model to explain the relationships among CSR fan involvement, urgency of CSR, fans' pride, and intention to donate. Theoretical and practical implications should be discussed.
  Keywords: corporate social responsibility; CSR; fan involvement; urgency; fan pride; donation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2024.10064138
   
  
• Holistic Sport Management Maturity Assessment: Application to COSMA Competencies Scale  
  by Michael Glykas, Xanthi Tsipoura, Spyridon Sakellariou 
  Abstract: A survey reviewing research in sport management implementation maturity has determined the dominant enablers and success factors. Each critical success factor and enabler has been associated with management theories that provide theoretical underpinnings necessary for enhancing academic integrity in the sports management field. A novel holistic approach for sport management implementation assessment is presented. It proposes a matrix that includes the most prominent, theoretically validated, enablers and critical success factors. The proposed matrix was combined with COSMA. COSMA provides a scale for competencies assessment of sport management professionals. A novel COSMA assessment tracking matrix resulted via the application of COSMA on our proposed maturity assessment framework. Contributions of our research are multi fold. Our proposed framework provides the theoretical underpinnings necessary for the validity of the identified concepts. Both the tracking matrix and the implementation maturity assessment framework can be used and extended by researchers and professionals in sport management.
  Keywords: process management; human resources management; HRM; sport management; COSMA; implementation maturity assessment.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2024.10065905
   
  
• Stakeholder Perceptions of a Corporate Community Involvement Health Initiative for Male Sport Fans  
  by Brendan Riggin, Karen Danylchuk, Dawn Gill, Wendy Blunt, Rob Petrella 
  Abstract: The purpose of this study is to take a stakeholder approach in evaluating the design and implementation of a Canadian corporate social responsibility initiative implemented in sport. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders (N = 37) of a program aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of sport fans and their communities. Themes were identified that were necessary in designing and implementing the program, including managing partnerships, the psychological and social supports/barriers, delivering a health program through sport, and the sport-related content. Implications for corporate social responsibility stakeholders and researchers are discussed and areas of future research are identified.
  Keywords: health promotion; program evaluation; corporate social responsibility; CSR; corporate community involvement; CCI; sport fans; CHL; Canada; process evaluation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2024.10066922
   
  
• Individual Support for Hosting the 2036 Olympic Games in the Rhine-Ruhr Area  
  by John A. Menge, Christoph Bühren, Torsten Schlesinger 
  Abstract: We analyse the economic sustainability and public support for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games in the Rhine-Ruhr area. While previous studies have used willingness to pay (WTP) proxies based on additional tax payments or voluntary donations, this study uses a new approach based on taxes already paid. It builds on the idea that the respondents do not make additional payments. This novel form of asking individuals’ WTP should mitigate the pain of paying bias. Our findings reveal that 62% of 1,594 respondents in the 14 potential hosting municipalities support hosting the games. Their average individual WTP is 235.2 from taxes already paid. Consumption capital, socioeconomic, tangible, and intangible factors are associated with WTP.
  Keywords: Olympic Games; willingness to pay; WTP; intangible effects; pain of paying; contingent valuation method; CVM; mega events.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2024.10067609
   
  
• Sponsorship of Grassroots Sport: a Scoping Review of Research  
  by Matthew Hindmarsh, John Hayton 
  Abstract: Grassroots sport is under increasing financial pressure with sponsorship providing a key income stream. This paper offers the first scoping review on the management of grassroots sponsorship, determining the state of research in this area to provide suggestions for further scholarly attention. Searching literature up until 2020 using terms including grassroots sport and sponsorship, 18 articles were returned, with descriptive then thematic analysis being undertaken. The review reports that studies are being conducted in economically leading countries, tending to focus on events and, to lesser extents, sport properties. Eight themes were constructed encompassing the securing, maintaining, and use of sponsorship, and grouped into two categories: (i) pre-sponsorship, and (ii) during sponsorship activity. Study in this area was stressed as being still in its infancy and largely atheoretical, with this paper serving to facilitate further conversation and investigation into the managerial practices associated with grassroots sport sponsorship.
  Keywords: sport sponsorship; grassroots sport; scoping review; management; sponsor; sponsee.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2024.10067861