The Effect of League Brand on the Relationship Between the Team Brand and Behavioral Intentions: A Formative Approach Examining Brand Associations and Brand Relationships

in Journal of Sport Management

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Thilo KunkelTemple University

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Daniel C. FunkTemple University

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Daniel LockBournemouth University

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2016-0166
Keywords:
brand architecture; brand associations; brand relationship; sport league
First Published Online:
15 May 2017
In Print:
Volume 31: Issue 4
Page Range:
317–332
Restricted access

Understanding the role of the league brand on consumers’ support for individual teams is important for the successful management and marketing of both leagues and teams. In the current research, brand architecture and brand association literature are integrated to examine the role of the league brand on the relationship between the team brand and team-related behavior. Data from an online survey of professional soccer league consumers (N = 414) were analyzed using structural equation modeling with bootstrapping procedures. The relationship between the team brand and team-related behavior was partially mediated by the league brand. Findings of this research contribute new knowledge by empirically demonstrating that characteristics of the league brand have an influence on team-related behavioral intentions. Furthermore, we contribute a different analytical approach for brand association research using formative indicators to measure team and league brand associations. In the managerial implications, we outline how league managers can support individual teams and how team managers can leverage off the league brand to attract consumers.

Thilo Kunkel and Daniel C. Funk are with the School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. Daniel Lock is with the Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, U.K.

Address author correspondence to Thilo Kunkel at thilo.kunkel@temple.edu.
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