Sports Franchises as Catalysts for Tourism in an Urban Setting

This research investigates the leverage of sports franchises by destination marketing organisations for their tourism potential. It adds to the literature in covering a hitherto under scrutinised field of tourism enquiry focusing on the role of globally renowned professional football teams as agents of tourism in the cities that host them. In doing so the study links theory to practice and provides policy makers with options for implementing initiatives in collaboration with sports franchises, resulting in benefits across the wider stakeholder environment. Underpinned by a pragmatic philosophy, the research employs a mixed methods approach within a multiple case study design that provides a comprehensive understanding of the way sports franchises and destination marketing organisations interact in the tourism space. Drawing on a diversity of subject matter from existing literature, the transdisciplinary nature of the thesis is complemented by the case studies conducted in Amsterdam and Manchester that incorporate both qualitative and quantitative data. The destination marketing organisations of the cities featured (in Amsterdam and Manchester) prove adept practitioners in the area of tourism leverage, but their efforts in co-opting the hugely popular football clubs in either city as objects of tourism leverage fail to fully grasp the tourism potential that these organisations represent. The research identifies elements of best practice and crucially the factors that hinder optimal leverage strategies when it comes to the use of major commercially oriented sports franchises. A compelling case is made for the leverage of these entities in locations where the circumstances permit, with the research proposing a way forward under the guise of the framework for sports franchises leverage. The framework adds to the literature on tourism leverage and has significant implications for DMOs in providing a practical template characterised by its flexibility and applicability in wider settings. The research is a first of its kind linking professional sports franchises to leverage and destination marketing. It enhances the literature in providing insights into how stakeholder theory, destination marketing, and cooperative marketing enjoy an almost symbiotic relationship in the tourism sphere. In focusing on the leverage of renowned football clubs it has implications for policy makers, sports franchises and researchers

An analysis of the Massachusetts compulsory automobile insurance system

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston Universit

Life sciences on-line: A study in hypermedia application

The main objective was to determine the feasibility of using a computer-based interactive information recall module for the Life Sciences Project Division (LSPD) at NASA, Johnson Space Center. LSPD personnel prepare payload experiments to test and monitor physiological functions in zero gravity. Training refreshers and other types of online help are needed to support personnel in their tasks during mission testing and in flight. Results of a survey of other hypermedia and multimedia developers and lessons learned by the developer of the LSPD prototype module are presented. Related issues and future applications are also discussed and further hypermedia development within the LSPD is recommended

Evaluation of Fast-Time Wake Vortex Prediction Models

Current fast-time wake models are reviewed and three basic types are defined. Predictions from several of the fast-time models are compared. Previous statistical evaluations of the APA-Sarpkaya and D2P fast-time models are discussed. Root Mean Square errors between fast-time model predictions and Lidar wake measurements are examined for a 24 hr period at Denver International Airport. Shortcomings in current methodology for evaluating wake errors are also discussed

In League? Destination Marketing Organisations and Football Clubs in the Virtual Space

Logic dictates that Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs), while representing many stakeholders, should leverage a location’s most visible assets to enhance the attractiveness of the destination at any given opportunity. This study examines the manner and extent to which four major European football franchises are mentioned and promoted on the official digital marketing platforms of their respective cities; Amsterdam, Barcelona, Manchester and Munich. A tailor made content analysis tool is used to conduct a systematic investigation of the virtual platforms over which the DMOs of these cities exert a modicum of control. The content of these platforms is scrutinised from three perspectives; promotional, information dissemination or push towards purchase via external links. The four cities forming part of this study are home to some of the world’s most iconic global sporting brands. The research uncovers a level of confusion or simple lack of know-how on the part of DMOs as to how these hugely popular clubs can or should be exploited in the digital space. It proffers solutions to this dilemma as in initiating cooperative marketing efforts between the respective organisations and exposes a contemporary field that necessitates further research

Pre-service teachers’ perceptions of problem-based learning for developing their mathematics teaching pedagogy

The study reported in this paper was part of a larger study that explored pre-service teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of a problem-based learning (PBL) teaching approach for developing their mathematics pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and their ability to enact their PCK in a tertiary mathematics education subject. This paper reports the qualitative semi-structured interviews used to capture the student voice with respect to the impact of the PBL approach used on the development of their mathematics PCK in comparison to their previous experiences with teacher-directed instruction. Overall, responses from the interviews revealed the pre-service teachers considered the PBL method used in this study was a more effective way to learn compared to being taught using a teacher-directed instructional approach, and further, that they will most likely use PBL when they become teachers

Systemic inflammation predicts all-cause mortality: a Glasgow Inflammation Outcome Study

Introduction: Markers of the systemic inflammatory response, including C-reactive protein and albumin (combined to form the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score), as well as neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet counts have been shown to be prognostic of survival in patients with cancer. The aim of the present study was to examine the prognostic relationship between these markers of the systemic inflammatory response and all-cause, cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality in a large incidentally sampled cohort.<p></p> Methods: Patients (n = 160 481) who had an incidental blood sample taken between 2000 and 2008 were studied for the prognostic value of C-reactive protein (>10mg/l, albumin (>35mg/l), neutrophil (>7.5×109/l) lymphocyte and platelet counts. Also, patients (n = 52 091) sampled following the introduction of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (>3mg/l) measurements were studied. A combination of these markers, to make cumulative inflammation-based scores, were investigated.<p></p> Results: In all patients (n = 160 481) C-reactive protein (>10mg/l) (HR 2.71, p<0.001), albumin (>35mg/l) (HR 3.68, p<0.001) and neutrophil counts (HR 2.18, p<0.001) were independently predictive of all-cause mortality. These associations were also observed in cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality before and after the introduction of high sensitivity C-reactive protein measurements (>3mg/l) (n = 52 091). A combination of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (>3mg/l), albumin and neutrophil count predicted all-cause (HR 7.37, p<0.001, AUC 0.723), cancer (HR 9.32, p<0.001, AUC 0.731), cardiovascular (HR 4.03, p<0.001, AUC 0.650) and cerebrovascular (HR 3.10, p<0.001, AUC 0.623) mortality. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that an inflammation-based prognostic score, combining high sensitivity C-reactive protein, albumin and neutrophil count is prognostic of all-cause mortality

There is a Garden

There is a garden that I know, And all my thought like butterflies about it go. I see red lilies lift their lips to mine, And through the iron gate the stars of jasmine shine. I hear the wood-thrush call in love-notes cool, I watch the slim moon slip to hide Deep in a ferny pool. But in that garden rare I may not stray, I only look and kiss the gate and go away; I only look and kiss that gate and go away. There is a garden that I know, And all the tho’ts like butterflies about it go