Esport Fans
Esports (competitive professional video gaming) is a rapidly growing industry, with an estimated global audience of 335 million people in 2017, including 143 million active in-person spectators. But what attracts fans to attend live esport events? In contrast to the limitations of watching events online, live experiences provide fans with enhanced opportunities for social interaction.
Performance and Luck
Wondering about the impact of luck on performance assessments? Research discovered European football (soccer) league players who scored goals off the post were given more playing time and received higher ratings from journalists and fans, despite the role of chance (i.e. luck) in their goals. Given the existence of this bias in the highly scrutinized arena…
Mental Performance for Officials
Officials have to make split second decisions that can affect the ultimate outcome of games. Strategies used by Canadian FIFA offical Marie-Soleil Beaudoin to prepare for games include a commitment to training, familiarizing herself with the teams., using keyword reminders to keep herself grounded, and disassociating the teams with the history and expectations they bring…
Maintaining Fan Support
Research with a professional Australian Football team’s season ticket holders revealed that good service quality, communication and administration positively influenced renewal and referral intentions, and provided a buffer against unpredictable on-field performance. This could help inform strategies used by sport organizations as they seek to maintain strong relationships with fans through COVID-19 restrictions and return-to-play…
Robot Spectators
Spectators are considered by some to be an important component of homefield advantage…so what will be the impact of empty stands? From robot mannequins in China, to cardboard cut-outs of fans in Germany (with proceeds to local charities), a number of innovative ideas are emerging that could be considered by professional sport leagues as they…
Curling Prize Money
This year, for the first time, Curling Canada will award the men’s and women’s national champions the same amount of prize money. This weekend, join the 1.5M active Canadian curlers in celebrating Curling Day in Canada (February 22) and tune in to the final games of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts happening in Moose Jaw,…
Gender Equity in the Media
Media coverage of tennis sensation Bianca Andreescu during the US Open provides insight into what quality coverage of women’s sport should be. Andreescu’s rise was covered with “hype and enthusiasm,” storylines focused on her athleticism and mental toughness, and decisions were made to expand coverage to build on national excitement (in one case pre-empting a…
Women’s World Cup 2019 – About More than Just Soccer
Since June 7, 2019, televisions, radios and mobile phones around the world have been tuned in to the Women’s World Cup. And while the play on the field has amazed, inspired and delighted us, the Women’s World Cup has also provided an opportunity for social transformation. Players are speaking out against gender discrimination in soccer,…
Sport Insight: The rule change that revolutionized curling
SIRC’s Sport Insight series features blogs and articles that examine innovation and evolution in the sport landscape. It started as a practice drill between two brothers and grew into the rule that transformed the sport of curling: the Free Guard Zone rule. Russ Howard, one of the best skips in Canadian curling history, is credited…
Hurling – The Fastest Game on Grass
Take a little bit of field hockey fundamentals, the ball carrying and throws of lacrosse, the physicality of rugby, with a sprinkle of hockey and soccer for good measure and you’ve got the Irish national sport of hurling (Camogie in the women’s league). Commonly known as the fastest game on grass, hurling is a designated…