Examining the Process Behind the Decision of Sports Fans to Attend Sports Matches at Stadiums Amid the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: The Case of South Korea

Abstract

The spread of SARS-CoV-2 has taken a toll on the sports industry worldwide. One of the key challenges for team managers or marketers is to understand how it affects the decision-making process of sports fans. This study examined the process behind the decision of sports fans to attend sports matches at stadiums amid the pandemic using the theory of planned behavior (TPB), which includes the moderating roles of team identification. Responses were obtained from 269 undergraduate and graduate students who had attended a sports match in 2019. Structural equation modeling was performed to evaluate three factors: the attitude toward attending sports matches, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control on the decision to attend. In addition, a hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to test the moderating effects of team identification. The findings displayed the positive influences on attendance intention from the perspective of (a) attitude, (b) subjective norm and (c) perceived behavioral control. On the other hand, team identification did not have a moderating effect on the relationships among attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control regarding the intention to attend a sport event. These findings suggest that it is important to grasp the role of volitional and non-volitional processes to explain the how the decision to attend sports matches is made.