Innovative Sport Consumption Experience: An Empirical Test in Spectator and Participant Sports

Understanding what aspects of sport consumption experiences are necessary to be innovative to gain and sustain long-term competitive advantage is a key issue in sport marketing. Presented herein is a multi-dimensional conceptualization of innovative sport consumption experiences, including six dimensions: sport performance, aesthetic environment, facility convenience, online services, brand community, and loyalty programs. Data were collected from spectators at a professional baseball game and users of a running station in Japan. Through a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), we assessed the construct and nomological validity of the proposed scale to measure the innovative sport consumption experience. In both settings, aesthetic environment innovativeness was the dominant factor in enhancing consumer satisfaction and brand attitude. Furthermore, the effects of brand community innovativeness on consumer satisfaction, brand attitude, and behavioral intentions were positive and significant for the baseball sample, while online services innovativeness positively influenced consumer satisfaction and brand attitude in the running station setting. The proposed framework was a useful model for understanding consumers\u27 assessments of innovative sport consumption experiences based on specific innovation points

Antecedents and consequences of sponsor-stadium fit: Empirical evidence from a non-historic stadium context in Japan

PURPOSE: Integrating several streams of theoretical reasoning such as social identity theory, congruity theory and the customer gratitude approach, the purpose of this paper is to develop a model of the antecedents and consequences of sponsor-stadium fit and examine the hypothesized relationships. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Data were collected from professional football spectators in a non-historic stadium context (n=342). Through a confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling, the authors assessed the antecedents and consequences of sponsor-stadium fit. FINDING: Based on the results, team identification and prior sponsor attitude were found to be the dominant factors in enhancing sponsor-stadium fit. Furthermore, the indirect effects of team identification on purchase intentions through sponsor-stadium fit and gratitude towards the sponsor were positive and significant. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: When renaming non-historic stadiums of relatively new sport teams, sponsors that present a team-related brand identity can create a reference and image fit with stadiums. The findings serve to advance the literature on stadium sponsorship particularly at non-historic stadiums. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: In its conceptualization of sponsor-stadium fit, the current study extends previous research that has focused primarily on sponsor-event fit.This research was funded by the Japanese Professional Football League (J. League)

Proposal and Evaluation of Intermediate Content for the Transition from Visual to Text-Based Programming Languages

Beginners learning to program learn visual-based programming languages, such as Scratch, whereas experts use text-based programming languages, such as C and Java. However, no seamless transition from visual to text-based programming languages has been established. In this paper, a transition method was established between both language types. In particular, emphasis was placed on the features that an intermediate language between visual and text-based programming languages should have. Additionally, learning with the proposed intermediate content enhanced the subsequent comprehension of text-based languages. The proposed intermediate content was evaluated using questionnaires to ensure that it had intermediate characteristics between both language types

Comparison of metamotivational dominance and cultural identity between Japanese National Team and Māori All Blacks rugby players

This pilot study used a reversal theory framework to examine metamotivational dominance of rugby players on the Māori All Blacks (MABs) squad of New Zealand and the Japanese National Team (JNT). Since the two groups have different cultural team demographics, cultural identity was also examined. Twenty six players from the MABs and 31 from the JNT completed questionnaires on metamotivational dominance and cultural identity. In terms of metamotivational dominance, the findings indicated that the MABs were more playful minded and spontaneous oriented than the JNT. Regarding cultural identity, the JNT showed a greater knowledge of their own culture and higher comfort level in their cultural context, while the MABs felt more positive and willing to sustain their own culture. The motivational personality differences between the teams may reflect the style of play that is valued within each team culture that is, flair, spontaneity and high-risk play within Māori rugby, and structure, team unity and conformity within the JNT. This suggests that metamotivational dominance of teams and players is influenced by the cultural identity of both the individuals and the group, which may have a further impact on team cohesion and performance

In-situ measurement of the atmospheric CO concentration at Syowa Station, Antarctica

A high-precision measurement system for the atmospheric CO concentration was developed. With some modifications to a gas chromatograph CO analyzer, instrumental reproducibility of 0.5 ppbv was achieved. This could be sufficient for detection of short-term, seasonal and long-term variations of the atmospheric CO concentration in the Antarctic region. A standard gas system to maintain a consistent calibration scale for the CO measurements was also prepared. The measurement system was installed at Syowa Station in March 2000 and has been maintained up to the present. The first-year\u27s observation showed a clear seasonal cycle of CO concentration

Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum after trauma

Intra-abdominal free gas is a finding of extra-intestinal gas in the abdominal cavity on radiography or CT, mainly suggesting gastrointestinal perforation and necessitating emergency surgery. Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum is diagnosed when there is no obvious gastrointestinal perforation, but there is presence of free gas in the abdominal cavity with an unidentifiable cause. Herein, we report a case of idiopathic pneumoperitoneum secondary to high-energy trauma following a car rollover accident. A 95-year-old man was transferred to our clinic after a car-to-car rollover accident. He had abrasions on his right upper arm and left abdomen that appeared to be the result of the accident ; however, no other apparent traumatic injuries were noted. There was no pain in the abdomen, and peritoneal irritation symptoms were also not noted. A CT scan showed fine free air. Although idiopathic pneumoperitoneum could not be ruled out, considering the patient’s background and the possibility of traumatic small bowel perforation, emergency surgery was performed. A thorough search of the abdominal cavity was performed ; however, the surgery was completed without an obvious perforation site. Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum should be considered as a differential disease in cases who have free air on abdominal CT but clinically lack obvious inflammatory reaction findings

Fan Engagement Behavior:Validation of a Theory-Based Scale

In this research, we conducted two studies to validate a multidimensional scale of fan engagement behavior. In Study 1, we generated survey items through a systematic review of the relevant literature, collected data from fans of professional baseball (n = 319) and soccer (n = 301), and provided evidence for the construct and concurrent validity of the scale composed of six dimensions. In Study 2, we reassessed construct validity in professional baseball (n = 582) and found that fan engagement behavior was represented by the proposed six dimensions with a final list of 21 items. Further, our predictive analysis throughout a season showed that fan engagement behavior fully mediated the relationship between predictor (team identification and awareness of fan engagement initiatives) and outcome variables (media viewing frequency, attendance frequency, and flourishing). The developed scale advances our understanding of fans’ voluntary actions that are culturally embedded in spectator sport