Although mega sporting events are becoming an effective means of brand communication, there has not been systematic research on involvement development and perceived fit enhancement through the sporting events. This study developed and tested a conceptual model delineating the impact of consumer involvement on perceive fit, and brand equity in mega sporting event context. Using quota sampling method, 1,847 participants (916 from IAAF; 931 from the F1) were recruited from several different cities in Korea during the mega-sporting events. Structural equation modeling were employed to examine the relationship between research constructs and test the model respectively. The study found that mega event involvement has a positive effect on perceived fit; and perceived fit influences brand equity(brand awareness, perceived quality and loyalty) toward event sponsor brands. The direct effects of involvement on sponsorship effectiveness (brand awareness, perceived quality and loyalty) did not have a significant effect on brand equity. The findings also reveal the mediating effect of perceived fit on brand equity.
