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‘I was there from the start’: The identity-maintenance strategies used by fans to combat the threat of losing

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  • Doyle, Jason P.
  • Lock, Daniel
  • Funk, Daniel C.
  • Filo, Kevin
  • McDonald, Heath

Abstract

On-field performances are a key, yet uncontrollable, determinant of team identification. In this research, we explore how fans of a new team, with an overwhelming loss to win ratio, maintain a positive social identity. Qualitative data gathered from 20 semi-structured interviews were used to address this research objective. Our findings indicated fans use social creativity and social mobility strategies to help preserve a positive and distinctive group identity. In the absence of success, fans evaluated the group on dimensions that reflected positively on, and emphasised the distinctiveness of, group membership. Fans also sought to increase their status in the group to increase the positivity of this association. We use these findings to extend understanding of social identity theory and provide recommendations for sport organisations with unfavourable performance records. Recommendations are themed around highlighting the unique nature of the group and favourable status comparisons between members of the in-group.

Suggested Citation

  • Doyle, Jason P. & Lock, Daniel & Funk, Daniel C. & Filo, Kevin & McDonald, Heath, 2017. "‘I was there from the start’: The identity-maintenance strategies used by fans to combat the threat of losing," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 184-197.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:spomar:v:20:y:2017:i:2:p:184-197
    DOI: 10.1016/j.smr.2016.04.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lock, Daniel J. & Funk, Daniel C., 2016. "The Multiple In-group Identity Framework," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 85-96.
    2. Havard, Cody T., 2014. "Glory Out of Reflected Failure: The examination of how rivalry affects sport fans," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 243-253.
    3. McDonald, Heath & Karg, Adam J. & Vocino, Andrea, 2013. "Measuring season ticket holder satisfaction: Rationale, scale development and longitudinal validation," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 41-53.
    4. Funk, Daniel C. & James, Jeff, 2001. "The Psychological Continuum Model: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding an Individual's Psychological Connection to Sport," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 4(2), pages 119-150, November.
    5. Holt, Douglas B, 1995. "How Consumers Consume: A Typology of Consumption Practices," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 22(1), pages 1-16, June.
    6. Lock, Daniel & Filo, Kevin, 2012. "The downside of being irrelevant and aloof: Exploring why individuals do not attend sport," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 187-199.
    7. Filo, Kevin & Cuskelly, Graham & Wicker, Pamela, 2015. "Resource utilisation and power relations of community sport clubs in the aftermath of natural disasters," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 555-569.
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    9. Kimberly D. Elsbach & C. B. Bhattacharya, 2001. "Defining Who You Are By What You're Not: Organizational Disidentification and The National Rifle Association," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(4), pages 393-413, August.
    10. Mahony, Daniel F. & Nakazawa, Makoto & Funk, Daniel C. & James, Jeffrey D. & Gladden, James M., 2002. "Motivational Factors Influencing the Behaviour of J. League Spectators," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 1-24, May.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Delia, Elizabeth B. & James, Jeffrey D., 2018. "The meaning of team in team identification," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 416-429.
    4. Mohsen Behnam & Geoff Dickson & Vahid Delshab & Anna Gerke & Parvaneh Savari Nikou, 2023. "The moderating effect of fan engagement on the relationship between fan knowledge and fan co-creation in social media," Post-Print hal-03969039, HAL.
    5. Winand, Mathieu & Schneiders, Christopher & Merten, Sebastian & Marlier, Mathieu, 2021. "Sports fans and innovation: An analysis of football fans’ satisfaction with video assistant refereeing through social identity and argumentative theories," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 99-109.
    6. Wegner, Christine E. & Delia, Elizabeth B. & Baker, Bradley J., 2020. "Fan response to the identity threat of potential team relocation," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 215-228.
    7. Dina Miragaia & João Ferreira & Alexandre Carvalho & Vanessa Ratten, 2019. "Interactions between financial efficiency and sports performance," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 8(1), pages 84-102, July.
    8. Wegner, Christine E. & King, Ceridwyn & Jordan, Jeremy S., 2020. "The role of organizational membership in overcoming dissonant sport activity identities," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 455-468.

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