Sports fans engagement in community tournaments: the contribution of perceived proximity in the Ivorian Maracana

Abstract

This article examines the influence of perceived proximity on the engagement of soccer fans in the context of community tournaments in Maracana, Ivory Coast. To this end, the research adopts a quantitative approach involving 409 respondents. To ensure scientific rigor, data were collected using a face-to-face questionnaire and processed in accordance with the methodological principles of Churchill's (1979) paradigm for the development and validation of measurement scales. In addition, the research hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) according to LISREL. The results show that three of the four dimensions of perceived proximity (spatial, emotional, and social) have a significant and positive influence on fan engagement. However, perceived temporal proximity has no notable effect in this context.

Classification JEL: M31

Paper type: Empirical Research