Search Results (276)

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional patterns of sport consumption, raising questions about whether fans would return to stadiums and how sensitive they would be to ticket prices in the recovery period. This study reconceptualizes ticket price elasticity as a market-based indicator of fan loyalty and applies it to Major League Baseball (MLB) during 2021–2023. Using team–season attendance data from Baseball-Reference, primary-market ticket prices from the Team Marketing Report Fan Cost Index, and secondary-market prices from TicketIQ, we estimate log–log fixed-effects panel models to separate causal price responses from popularity-driven correlations. The results show a strongly negative elasticity of attendance with respect to primary-market prices (β ≈ −7.93, p < 0.001), indicating that higher ticket prices substantially reduce attendance, while secondary-market prices are positively associated with attendance, reflecting demand shocks rather than causal effects. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that brand strength, team performance, and game salience significantly moderate elasticity, supporting the interpretation of inelastic demand as revealed loyalty. These findings highlight the potential of elasticity as a Fan Loyalty Index, providing a replicable framework for measuring consumer resilience. The study offers practical insights for pricing strategy, fan segmentation, and engagement, while emphasizing the broader social role of sport in restoring community identity during post-pandemic recovery. Full article

The adoption of immersive technologies is increasing in sensory, consumer, and marketing research, yet existing extended reality (XR) systems face limitations in realism, ease of product interaction, presence, data collection, and scalability. This study presents Sense-AV, an augmented virtuality (AV) system designed for large-scale sensory and consumer tests with enhanced immersion and realism. 102 participants evaluated two foods and one beverage across two sessions: a conventional sensory booth and the Sense-AV system, which simulated a sports bar environment. Real-time data collection was supported through API-linked mobile questionnaires, audio prompts via the head-mounted display (HMD), and open comments recorded by voice. Sense-AV was rated highly for usability, efficiency, satisfaction, presence, and sensory awareness. Older participants reported greater ease in handling products, while some difficulties with mobile input were noted but had minimal impact on the overall user experience (UX). Interviews emphasized immersion, intuitive use, and minor technical adjustments. No significant differences in overall product liking were found between methods, except for the mayonnaise, which scored higher in the immersive setting. Although food intake was lower in Sense-AV, oral feedback was more detailed and expressive. The system demonstrates innovation by improving realism and external validity in large-scale sensory evaluations. Full article

Professional football players face considerable occupational hazards, with injuries posing serious challenges to player safety, club performance, and regulatory oversight. This descriptive study examines the multifaceted implications of Portugal’s Laws No. 48/2023, which formally recognises professional football as a high-risk occupation and strengthens the mandatory insurance regime through a major regulatory update. Adopting a qualitative approach, the analysis focuses on Portugal, where the professional football business model heavily relies on player commercialisation, and compares regulatory frameworks in Spain, Germany, England, Italy, France, and Brazil. Findings indicate that Portugal’s legal framework enhances player safety by ensuring comprehensive coverage and improved disability protections, yet also introduces financial pressures on clubs, particularly those with lower economic capacity. These pressures are exacerbated by limited market competition and high insurance concentration, increasing premium costs. Cross-country comparisons reveal persistent disparities in legal standards, insurance scope, and institutional coordination, which complicate risk allocation in an increasingly globalised football market. Notably, Portugal’s high-risk insurance model most closely aligns with France’s hybrid approach, in contrast to fully public schemes seen in countries like Germany and Italy. While complete harmonisation remains challenging, the study identifies key principles to guide policy reform and international cooperation. Overall, the findings advance understanding of occupational risk regulation in sport and offer practical insights for designing effective, equitable, and safety-oriented protection systems for professional athletes. Full article

Lenticel spots (fruit dots) on pear peel strongly influence consumer preference and market price, yet the regulatory networks underlying their lignin/cellulose deposition remain elusive. Here, we integrated electron microscopy, metabolomics, and RNA-seq across three developmental stages (30, 40, and 60 d after full bloom, DAFB) in the pear cultivar ‘Dangshansuli’ (SL) and its bud-sport ‘Dangshanxisu’ (XS). XS exhibited fewer lenticel spots and lower lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose contents than SL, with the critical onset of lignin and cellulose accumulation detected between 40 and 60 DAFB. Metabolome-wide analysis detected five differentially accumulated lignin monomers, while transcriptome profiling revealed 79 differentially expressed genes (padj ≤ 0.05, |log₂FC| ≥ 1) enriched in phenylpropanoid and cellulose-synthase pathways. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) uncovered two modules (|r| > 0.8, p < 0.05) positively correlated with lignin and cellulose content, harboring 11 structural genes (4CL, F5H, CCR, COMT, PRX/POD and CESA isoforms) and five transcription-factor families (MYB, NAC, AP2/ERF, WRKY, bHLH). RT-qPCR validated the coordinated down-regulation of these genes in XS relative to SL. Our results decipher the gene–metabolite circuitry driving lenticel lignification in pear, providing molecular targets for breeding peel-perfect cultivars and for cultural practices that minimize superficial blemishes. Full article

Understanding luxury tourists required a more comprehensive approach than traditional expenditure-based segmentation, which often overlooked travelers’ financial capacity. This study therefore aimed to develop and validate a new typology of luxury tourists by jointly analyzing income and expenditure patterns using the International Visitor Survey of South Korea. The study addressed the need to capture both tourists’ economic capability and consumption behavior to enhance the precision of market segmentation and support sustainable destination management. Using the Jenks natural breaks classification and logistic regression, four distinct tourist types were identified: economy, spurious, scrooge, and premier, each reflecting unique combinations of income and expenditure. The results revealed that age, nationality, occupation, and trip purpose significantly influenced tourists’ classification. Younger and middle-aged professionals from East Asia were more likely to belong to high-income and high-expenditure groups, whereas Western tourists tended to spend more relative to their income. This income–expenditure typology advanced theoretical understanding of luxury tourism segmentation and provided practical insights for destination marketing organizations. The findings offered new insights for understanding how the alignment between tourists’ financial capacity and spending behavior can redefine strategies for sustainable and inclusive tourism development. Full article

Secure multi-party extremum, as a significant offshoot of secure multi-party computation, has extensive applications in various domains, including healthcare, financial transactions, market analysis, sports events, etc. Nevertheless, most existing secure multi-party extremum protocols rely on computational hard problems and are thus vulnerable to quantum algorithms. This paper presents a quantum secure multi-party extremum protocol that is built upon the correlations of Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) states. Within this protocol, multiple participants, with the aid of a semi-honest third party, can obtain the maximum and minimum values of their secret inputs. GHZ states act as the information carriers and are transmitted among the participants and the third party. Their unique correlations ensure the secure transmission of quantum particles. The analysis demonstrates that the proposed protocol is capable of not only warding off common external attacks but also resisting internal attacks launched by dishonest participants and the semi-honest third party. Moreover, the protocol boasts correctness and high scalability. Full article

Facilities with high energy demands, such as swimming pools, face escalating costs in electricity and heating, exacerbated by economic instability and fluctuating energy prices. These facilities are often overdesigned to meet extreme peak demands, resulting in higher than necessary energy usage. Therefore, to reduce costs, diversification of heat sources and tailoring their efficiency to meet real-time needs is required. This study analyzes a swimming pool complex in Poland with a sports pool, a recreational pool, an outdoor pool, and a spa bath, comparing the initial design assumptions for the use of heat and electricity with actual consumption data. By incorporating a mix of energy sources, including cogeneration (combined heat and power), gas boilers, district heating, heat pumps, and photovoltaic panels, the system can flexibly adjust to market energy prices. An automated monitoring system continuously monitors energy use, identifies deviations, and helps pinpoint errors, allowing more precise and economical energy management. Detailed reports generated from meter readings enable comparisons with previous usage periods and guide future planning. A balance of energy production with consumption, adjustment of production to match demand, and configuration of equipment operation with defined parameters all contribute to an effective and cost-effective approach to facility energy management. Full article

In Italy, several changes to academic and professional standards and rules in kinesiology and sport have recently occurred. On the university side, no data collection has started regarding these changes and effects on specific scholars. The aim of this study was to evaluate the opinions of Italian university scholars in Exercise and Sport Sciences regarding recent disciplinary reclassifications, the emergence of the kinesiologist as a formal profession, and related curricular updates. Specifically, this study aimed to measure scholars’ views on the usefulness of unification, hybridization with other fields of knowledge, interdisciplinarity with pedagogy, the distinctiveness of undergraduate education in light of the new kinesiologist profile, and the inclusion of Technical and Laboratory Activities (TLA) credited through the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). These aspects were explored through an eight-question survey offering three multiple-choice answers. An exploratory survey was distributed to a defined population of 261 Italian scholars (48 full professors, 137 associate professors, and 76 researchers). A total of 83 responses were collected: 14 full professors, 45 associate professors, and 24 researchers (response rate: 31.8%). Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses (Chi-Square tests, Cramér’s V, and Pearson/Spearman correlations) were conducted. Results indicated that 72.3% perceived overlap between pedagogical and medical disciplinary groups, and 85.5% considered practical/laboratory activities essential to the kinesiologist’s role. Significant differences in keyword-sharing perceptions across academic ranks emerged (p = 0.012; V = 0.3), and a near-significant trend was found regarding the importance of discipline-aligned research (p = 0.058; V = 0.3). Full agreement was found on the use of updated scientific evidence in lectures (100%), and 81.9% supported standardized education for the kinesiologist profession (Q6). Positive correlations were observed between support for keyword sharing and belief in its usefulness for promoting interdisciplinarity among full professors (r = 0.58, p = 0.02), associate professors (r = 0.68, p < 0.01), and researchers (r = 0.83, p < 0.01). Conversely, negative correlations emerged between the importance placed on practical activities and support for interdisciplinarity among associate professors and researchers, with values ranging from r = −0.31 to −0.46. The results are significant and tended toward autonomy from pedagogy, training aligned with the bachelor’s and master’s degree kinesiologist, and interdisciplinarity inherent in typical Exercise and Sport Sciences (ESS) keywords. This study should be replicated to increase the sample and to expand the ad hoc questionnaire to other issues. These findings highlight the need for greater alignment between academic training, disciplinary definitions, and professional practice through shared epistemological frameworks and updated descriptors that reflect scientific and labor market developments. Full article

With the rapid development of technology, an increasingly competitive environment, and evolving consumer behaviour, the use of modern marketing tools has become a key challenge for companies of various types (manufacturing, providing services, sports organizations, universities, etc.). Although sustainable digital communication methods are gaining prominence, existing research often focuses merely on describing communication trends without providing decision-making frameworks for strategy optimisation. This paper addresses this gap by mapping the current state of marketing communication strategies among large telecommunication companies in Slovakia and assessing their impact on customer behaviour and market position. Data were analysed through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including document analysis, annual reports, surveys, and personal observations. One enterprise was selected for detailed data analysis. The results confirm a significant relationship between the use of communication channels and the company’s market position, brand popularity, and the strong influence of employee recommendations. Unlike previous studies, which predominantly describe marketing communication trends and tools, this research integrates the evaluation of communication strategy effectiveness with a systematic management decision-making model based on the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) continuous improvement cycle. This approach enables continuous optimisation of sustainable communication strategies and provides actionable managerial guidance for improving resource allocation, market position, and organisational adaptability in dynamic market environments. Full article

Background: The use of sports supplements has increased significantly in athletic contexts, raising the need to evaluate their efficacy, safety, regulatory status, and communication practices. Objective: This study aimed to describe and synthesize the ergogenic and physiological effects of Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Category A performance supplements. Methods: A descriptive and observational study was conducted, collecting and analyzing information from systematic reviews and position statements related to performance supplements, including caffeine, creatine, β-alanine, nitrate/beetroot juice, sodium bicarbonate, and glycerol. Results: Caffeine and creatine are the only supplements with authorized health claims. However, β-alanine, nitrates, sodium bicarbonate, and glycerol show positive ergogenic effects supported by strong evidence, especially in endurance, strength, high-intensity, and aquatic sports. However, these substances lack regulatory approval, and only a small proportion of commercial products comply with current legislation. Conclusions: While performance supplements may enhance athletic performance when used alongside proper nutrition and scientific guidance, their effectiveness is not always consistent or assured. This review highlights the urgent need to update regulatory frameworks, harmonize labeling standards, and promote ethical marketing to safeguard consumers and support sports and nutrition professionals. Full article

Sports teams increasingly use nostalgia-based marketing to spark fan engagement and boost merchandise sales. Yet these efforts can also provoke backlash, especially when they resurrect contested imagery. This article examines how one such campaign—the New York Islanders’ 2015 revival of their controversial fisherman logo—was framed across team broadcasts and interpreted by fans on social media. Drawing on a qualitative textual analysis of television and radio coverage alongside a quantitative content analysis of 563 tweets, the study reveals a divide between institutional messaging and grassroots reaction. While team broadcasts emphasized charity and sentimental appeal, fan discourse was notably more critical, mocking the jersey’s design and recalling past failures. By positioning nostalgia not only as a branding asset but as a reputational risk, the article contributes a novel perspective to debates about commercialization, mediatization, and fan co-production in sports. It also demonstrates the value of mixed methods for analyzing how branding narratives are negotiated in real time. Full article

Background: Youth with intellectual disabilities are often marginalised and discriminated against regarding skills development and work opportunities as society seems to place high value on an individual’s intellect. Unemployment levels for youth with intellectual disabilities are significantly higher than youth in the general population, yet youth with intellectual disabilities can become valuable employees. This paper explores the untapped potential for youth with disabilities to access skill development opportunities through participation in sports organisations and events that enable them to become economically active. Methodology: A critical ethnographic approach was adopted as the research design. The sample included six youth with intellectual disabilities, five parents, two vocational trainers, two sports coaches, and two golf managers. Data was gathered through participant observations, semi structured interviews, and reflective journaling. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: The theme “Hidden treasures in a disabling environment” emerged, highlighting the untapped potential of youth with intellectual disabilities to engage in livelihood activities through participation in sports events. One subtheme was “Invisible and well-hidden resources” reflecting remote training centres leading to missed work opportunities. Research findings highlighted that youth with intellectual disabilities possessed marketable skills, alongside the discovery of substantial unexplored livelihood opportunities in the workforce of sports events. Full article

The transition to passenger car electrification is a crucial step in China’s strategic efforts to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality. However, previous research has not considered the variances in vehicle models. Hence, this study aims to fill this gap by comparing the carbon emission reduction and economic feasibility of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the Chinese market, taking into account different powertrains, vehicle segments, classes, and driving ranges. Next, the study identifies the most cost-effective BEV within each market segment, employing life-cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis methods. Moreover, at different levels of technological development, we construct three low-carbon measures, including electricity decarbonization (ED), energy efficiency improvement (EEI), and vehicle lightweight (LW), to quantify the emission mitigation potentials from different carbon reduction pathways. The findings indicate that BEVs achieve an average carbon reduction of about 31.85% compared to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), demonstrating a significant advantage in carbon reduction. However, BEVs are not economically competitive. The total life cycle cost of BEVs is 1.04–1.68 times higher than that of ICEVs, with infrastructure costs accounting for 18.8–57.8% of the vehicle’ s life cycle costs. In terms of cost-effectiveness, different models yield different results, with sedans generally outperforming sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Among sedans, both A-class and B-class sedans have already reached a point of cost-effectiveness, with the BEV400 emerging as the optimal choice. In low-carbon emission reduction scenarios, BEVs could achieve carbon reduction potentials of up to 45.3%, 14.9%, and 9.0% in the ED, EEI, and LW scenarios, respectively. Thus, electricity decarbonization exhibits the highest potential for mitigating carbon emissions, followed by energy efficiency improvement and vehicle lightweight. There are obvious differences in the stages of impact among different measures. The ED measure primarily impacts the waste treatment process (WTP) stage, followed by the vehicle cycle, while the EEI measure only affects the WTP stage. The LW measure has a complex impact on emission reductions, as the carbon reductions achieved in the WTP stage are partially offset by the increased carbon emissions in the vehicle cycle. Full article

Education leads to building successful careers. However, different groups of students have different studying preferences. Our target group are athletes, combining their education and sports training. The main objective is to provide recommendations for an effective education system for athletes, improving their chances of finding new careers after leaving sports. Such a system must include Big Data and utilise AI possibilities currently available that support athletes’ career planning and development in a meaningful way. The main objective is specified by the following partial objectives: identifying what types of Big Data to analyse in connection with the athletes’ education; revealing what AI tools to include in the athletes’ education for their better preparation for a career after sports; determining what knowledge of AI and Big Data athletes need to stay relevant once they enter the labour market. Our study combines secondary and primary data sources. The secondary data (used in the orientation analysis) include case studies on AI and Big Data connected to education. The primary data were collected via a survey performed on over 200 Slovak junior athletes. The results show directions for the sports policymakers and sports organisations’ managers willing to improve their athletes’ career prospects. Full article

Environmental pollution has become a significant issue, and environmental protection within the realm of sports has garnered increasing attention from various sectors of the academic community. This study takes the public’s intention to purchase sports stadiums as the research object, introduces two mediating variables of green value perception and sense of accomplishment, builds a hypothetical model from the perspective of motivation protection theory, and explores the influence of perceived functional risk of green sports stadiums on consumption intention through SEM analysis based on the samples of the recovered questionnaires (N = 1073). The results are as follows: first, there is a negative influence between perceived functional risk and green sports stadium consumption intention, and the lower the perceived functional risk of green sports stadiums, the more consumers can promote their choice of green sports stadiums when they consume in stadiums; second, green value perception plays a mediating role in the relationship between perceived functional risk and green sports stadium services consumption intention; third, a sense of accomplishment plays a mediating role in the relationship between perceived functional risk and willingness to consume green sports stadium; fourth, green value perception and a sense of accomplishment play a chain mediating role between perceived functional risk and willingness to consume in the context of green sports stadiums. This study aims to contribute to the popularization and development of green sports stadiums in China and to provide green sports stadium builders and managers with more targeted and effective marketing strategies. Full article