The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among purchasing tendencies, brand identification, consumer-brand relationships, and brand loyalty by analyzing structural equation model. A survey was conducted by using members(n=220) of 8 sport clubs located in Chungcheong Province. The data were recorded and analyzed using the SPSSWIN Ver. 21.0 and AMOS 18.0 to analyze the structural equation model. The findings of this study were as follows: First, brand purchasing had a significantly negative effect on brand identification. Second, rational purchasing was found to impact significantly on brand identification. Third, loyal purchasing did not show significant impact on brand identification. Firth, brand identification was found to significantly influence on brand love, brand interdependence, and brand loyalty. Fifth, brand love had no positive impact on brand loyalty. Finally, interdependence was found to impact significantly and positively on brand loyalty.
PURPOSE This study aimed to identify the dimensions of sport brand authenticity and to develop a valid and reliable scale for measuring such dimensions. METHODS Along with a sequential mixed method design, qualitative researches were conducted (a literature review on brand authenticity and the inherent value of sport, 5 one-to-one expert interviews, and a Delphi survey of 10 researchers). Based on the qualitative research results, an EFA (n=304), 2 times CFA (1st: n=304, 2nd: n=311), and correlation analysis using the other scale (brand relationship quality, brand attachment, brand credibility) were conducted to test reliability, construct validity, and criterion-related validity. RESULTS In the qualitative research results, 8 dimensions with 36 items were extracted; however 6 dimensions (originality, connectedness, legitimacy, authority, sport spirit, and expertise) with 28 items were identified as appropriate structures from EFA and CFA, and the relations between all the dimensions and other scales related to consumer attitude were statistically significant in the correlation analysis. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that the scale in this study could provide a new and specific perspective on sport brand authenticity, which is constructed using a general aspect and a sport specific aspect, and an understanding of the concept of sport brand authenticity in other sport industries.
The purpose of this study was to examine competitiveness of sport product companies by brand origin in the Korean market by analyzing attribute evaluation of sport products, brand equity, and purchase intention and their causal relationship. Competitive sport brands were selected in global, Japanese, and Korean brands by a pilot survey. Then, this study selected a population participating in sports for all, elite sports, professional sports, and leisure sports and 498 effective questionnaires were secured. As a result, Korean consumers for sport products evaluated global sport brands in the highest level, Japanese sport brands in the moderate level, and Korean sport brands in the lowest level in the evaluation of attribute evaluation of sport products, brand equity, and purchase intention. Moreover, the evaluation of participating types in sports for all, elite sports, professional sports, and leisure sports showed the same result in the order of global, Japanese, and Korean sport brands. Global sport brands had a sequential causal relationship from attribute evaluation of sport products to brand equity and purchase intention and formed a consumption behavior model that attribute evaluation of sport products led to purchase intention. On the other hand, while Korean sport brands had a sequential causal relationship from attribute evaluation of sport products to brand equity and purchase intention, attribute evaluation of sport products did not lead to purchase intention. Finally, it was confirmed that global brands such as Nike and Adidas had a high market position and Korean sport consumers’ purchase behavior was determined based on information of product attributes and brand equity.
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.
PURPOSE This study first investigated how different types of sport team logos (emblem vs. mascot) influence consumer behavior through warmth and competence and then examined the moderating effects of consumer characteristics (gender) and contextual cues (perceived competence) on these relationships. METHODS A nationwide sample of adults age 20 was selected using quota random sampling based on gender. A 2 (logo type: emblem vs. mascot) × 2 (gender) × 2 (contextual cue: high competence vs. low competence) experimental design was employed, with participants randomly assigned to each group. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with Mplus 8 was employed to assess the measurement model’s reliability and validity, and hypothesis testing was conducted through structural equation modeling (SEM), measurement invariance tests, and multigroup SEM analysis. RESULTS Findings indicate that anthropomorphized mascot logos, compared to emblem logos, generate more positive attitudes and psychological responses (warmth and competence) to the team. Gender’s moderating effect on the relationship between logo type and consumer perceptions (warmth and competence) was not significant, but contextual cues’ moderating effect was partially significant. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights of perceived warmth and competence’s crucial role in shaping consumer attitudes toward sports teams through logo design. These findings offer meaningful insights for sports teams and marketers to optimize branding strategies and enhance fan engagement.
PURPOSE Neuromarketing measures and analyzes the unconscious response of consumer brain waves to marketing stimuli in real time. This study examined how a sensational scene (accident) in a sport game influences the sponsorship effects through electroencephalography (EEG) analysis. METHODS The current study uses an experimental method. First, as an experimental stimulus, a video of F1 racing edited in a total of 9 min and 39 s was used, and an accident scene was inserted in the middle of the video. A total of 46 people participated in the experiment, and all participants watched the F1 video, including the accident scene. Participants' brain waves were observed in two prefrontal and two occipital lobes. The relationship between scene sensation and sponsorship effect was analyzed based on alpha waves and the sponsor brand recall measured by questionnaires. RESULTS First, the accident scene of the race caused the power of alpha wave to be abruptly reduced (i.e., alpha blocking). Second, the difference between the alpha power level of the group that recalled the sponsor brand and that of the group that did not recall was statistically insignificant; hence, the hypothesis was rejected. Third, the right-brain dominance (negative emotion) in the accident scene of the race was statistically insignificant; therefore, the hypothesis was rejected. Finally, the group that recalled the sponsor brand showed a left-brain dominance (positive emotion), which was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed the marketing communication and neuromarketing theories on the sponsorship effects created by stimulation, attention, and memory in a sport sponsorship setting, observing alpha blocking phenomena in a sensational scene (accidents). In addition, it was revealed that the group that watched the same accident scene relatively positively and exited remembered the sponsor brand better than the group that did not watch it. The result implied that sport fan’s personal trait (e.g., sensation seeking) to sensation in sponsorship activities affects the sponsorship effect. The results also emphasized the importance of selecting target customers of sports fans in sponsorship to maximize sponsorship effects.
