Consumer Loyalty: The Meaning of Attachment in the Development of Sport Team Allegiance
in Journal of Sport ManagementClick name to view affiliation
Prior research has demonstrated a direct relationship between loyalty and reasons for liking a particular sport team. The current study replicates and extends this line of inquiry by examining the mediating role of attachment, a process by which an individual moves from merely liking a team (attraction) to becoming loyal to a team (allegiance). Data (Collegiate N = 194; Collegiate and Professional N = 402, Favorite Sport Team N = 808) were collected to examine 13 benefits and attributes associated with liking a sport team, 3 attitude formation properties, and allegiance. A three-stage test of mediation using MLR revealed that attachment mediated the relationship between allegiance and Vicarious Achievement, Nostalgia, Star Player, Escape, Success, and Peer Group Acceptance. Results demonstrate that allegiance is the outcome of a process by which individuals develop stronger emotional reactions to, more functional knowledge about, and greater symbolic value for benefits and attributes associated with a sport team.
Funk is with the Griffith Business School, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, PMB 50 Gold Coast Mail Centre, Queensland 9726, Australia; James is with Florida State University, Department of Sport Management, Recreation Management, and Physical Education, 110 Tully Gym, Tallahassee, FL.
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