Scheduled for Measurement Free Communications, Saturday, April 5, 2003, 10:15 AM - 11:30 AM, Convention Center: 304


Dimensions of Market Demand Variables Associated With Professional Sport Game Consumption: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

James J. Zhang1, Eddie T. C. Lam2, Debbie Williamson3, Jessica Braunstein1 and Matthew Ellis1, (1)University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, (2)Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, (3)Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC

Market demand variables for professional sport games are core product features to satisfy the needs and expectations of sport consumers. Contemporary theories derived from empirical investigations indicate that market demand variables fall into three general dimensions: contest attractiveness, game promotion, and economic appeal. However, three weaknesses are recognized with previous research findings that led to the theory formulation: (a) professional football, basketball, and baseball were the main focus in previous studies, (b) game attendants were usually the research participants, limiting the applicability of the findings to those who were already in attendance, and (c) exploratory factor analysis was usually the main analytical procedure. The purpose of this study was to examine the general dimensions of market demand variables associated with professional sport game consumption through a confirmatory factor analysis. Conducting a review of literature and test of content validity, a total of 12 common market demand variables under the three theoretical dimensions (i.e., contest attractiveness, game promotion, and economic appeal) were identified and phrased into Likert 5-scale statements. Following a standard protocol, a survey was conducted in a major southern city through interviewing consumers at shopping malls, food courts, restaurants, and sport arenas, as well as through conducting telephone interviews with people selected from the local telephone directory. A total of 525 individuals of 18 or older participated in the study. The three-factor model with 12 items was proposed and analyzed based on the weighted least square estimation method in a confirmatory factor analysis. The goodness-of-fit indexes of the model were in the uppermost ranges (e.g., RMSEA=.04, GFI=.97, and AGFI=.95), indicating that the model provided a good fit to the data. The lambda values of all the items were above .70 and hence retained. Composite reliability coefficients for the factors were between .87 and .95, indicating the factors were internally consistent. Variance extracted for the factors were between .62 and .87, indicating adequate variance explanations by the factors. The findings of this study support the existing market demand theory for professional sport game consumption. The resolved scale can be adopted to examine the expectations of current and potential game consumers in and outside of arenas.

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