| The purpose of the current investigation was to develop and validate a scale that empirically measures fan perceptions toward a rival sports team. Rivalry is talked about on an almost-daily basis, yet little research into the phenomenon exists. Previous research into sport rivalry tends to focus on fan behavior (Wann & Grieve, 2005), consumer behavior (Mahony & Moorman, 1999), and fan evaluations of teams and players (Wann et al., 2006). In the current study, two samples of intercollegiate athletics fans were used to develop and validate the Sport Rivalry Fan Perception Scale (SRFPS). The measure proved reliable and valid as a measure of fan perceptions toward a rival team. Additionally, the SRFPS was examined for any discernable differences between fans. In particular, differences were examined between fans who live in the same city and state as the favorite team and those who do not, and fans who received a degree and/or attended the university where the favorite team plays and those who did not. No significant differences were found among fans regarding the city, state, and degree/attended questions. Possible reasons for the lack of significance are discussed, along with the theoretical and practical implications of the SRFPS and areas for future study. |
