An Analysis of Attendance at an NCAA Division I University: The Relationship of Fan Identification, Sport Fandom, and Demographic Variables

Research was conducted at The University of Akron to investigate the relationship between attendance at sporting events and fan identification, sport fandom, and other demographics variables. 195 Akron students took a survey consisting of the Sport Spectator Identification Scale, the Sport Fandom Questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire. The results revealed that fan identification and sport fandom were both positively correlated to student attendance at sporting events. Additional factors significantly correlated with attendance were if the participant had friends that played on a varsity sports team, or if the participant themselves played on a varsity sports team. Demographic variables such as age, sex, ethnicity, and year in school were not significantly correlated with attendance