The Contribution of Event Quality Factors on the Development of Memorable Tourism Experiences: Evidence from the 2018 FIFA World Cup

The aim of this study is to test the applicability of the construct of memorable tourism experience in the context of a mega-sport event, and to investigate the contribution of event quality factors on the development of memorable tourism experiences. For the accomplishment of this aim, thestudy investigated the experiences of a sample of international spectators who attended the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches hosted in St. Petersburg, Russia. Data collection took place on-site during the group stage matches hosted at the stadium and was conducted with a self-completion questionnaire using two scales, one for memorable tourism experience and one for event quality factors. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the psychometric properties of revised versions of the two scales. Multiple regression analysis showed that memorable tourism experiences were significantly predicted by the event quality factors, with the authenticity, entertainment, venue quality, and event competition dimensions having the most significant contributions. Theoretical and management implications are discussed.

Temporary Communitas at an Iconic Cricket Event: An Ethnographic Study

The nature of events demand uniqueness and memorability, but the specific elements of experience that produce these have not been deeply examined, particularly over the course of the event experience. Much of this relies heavily on event places and the social relations they facilitate. This research used the concept of temporary communitas and built on the Event Experience Scale (EES) through an ethnographic study of an iconic multi-day, spectator driven sporting event. Solicited participant diaries of eight friends and family who travelled to attend the 2017 Boxing Day Ashes Test in Melbourne, Australia, were collected pre, during and post-event to capture the event experience as it emerged over time. Qualitative analysis of the ethnographic accounts revealed four event experience themes (competition, emotions and atmosphere, special experience and interactions), which collectively were connected to a strong sense of temporary communitas. These themes were evident across the event cycle, providing insight into the nuances of the event experience, and highlighting the importance of understanding the social relations generated in the event place pre- and post-event. Consequently, it is suggested that revision to the existing EES instrument is required to more comprehensively assess for temporary communitas as part of the event experience. Future studies could usefully test the factor structure of the EES with and without the suggested additional temporary communitas items and compare both models on the basis of their reliability and validity.

Using Communication Boundaries to Minimize Athlete Social Media Distractions During Events

Sport organizations regulate athletes' use of social media for many reasons including the protection of the organization's reputation. Several strategies have been introduced to minimize issues related to the negative consequences athlete social media use may present, yet whether these strategies also work to address social media distractions experienced by athletes during major sport events is not well known. Utilizing communication privacy management (CPM) theory, the purpose of the current research was to examine the aspects of social media that sport administrators perceive to be distracting to athletes and what support and management mechanisms are utilized to address such concerns during major sport events. Semistructured interviews ( N = 7) with Australian national sport organization (NSO) administrators were conducted. Sport administrators reported several aspects of social media that are perceived to distract athletes including personal and performance criticism and a fixation with social media profiles. Social media could also be used to manage athlete temperament. As a result, organizations highlighted both proactive and reactive communication boundaries and mechanisms that could be used to address concerns including content restrictions, best practice case studies, engaging in conversations, and monitoring. Opportunities for sport practitioners are described including conducting consultation sessions with athletes to better understand their needs regarding their social media use.

Stand-Up and Be Counted: Exploring The Role of Comedy in Society

Comedy is a multidimensional, diverse and versatile spectacle, an identifiable art form and source of entertainment and it has a rich historical identity and purpose. It contributes to cultural identities and has more recently been proven to provide positive impacts in mental healthcare. It offers social and cultural benefit and influences social change. The growth of live comedy has a strong background in working-class venues which has possibly predisposed it to being perceived as less significant other performance arts such as dance and theatre. Given the untapped potential for further research this empirical paper sought to evaluate the potential opportunities for comedy to make a greater positive impact on local communities. To facilitate this, data was collected through surveys administered online and in comedy clubs in the West Midlands (UK). A total of 179 questionnaires were received, supported with in-depth interviews with comedy club managers. Key issues for live comedy engagement were found to include a lack of awareness, perceived price barriers and a lack of publicity. 70% of respondents agreed that live comedy could have a wider, positive social impact and also offers a platform to address difficult social issues. A number of participants expressed the importance of communitas and the opportunity to discuss difficult and sensitive issues in a structureless state of liminality.

The Antecedents and Consequences of Subjective Well-Being among Sport Participants: The Case of Korean American Sports Festival

The purpose of this study is to reveal the role of ethnic sport participants' subjective well-being as it interacts with its antecedents and consequences. The antecedents are participants' perceived benefits of sport participation and their satisfaction with an event. The consequences are participants' organizational commitment and their ethnic identity. The dynamics of subjective well-being and those constructs were tested at the 2015 Korean American Sports Festival where 283 Korean American participants reported on self-administered questionnaires. The collected data were first analyzed via confirmatory factor analysis; structural equation modeling was then used to secure the magnitude and significance of each path designed in the model. The social, psychological, and health benefits of sport participation positively affected satisfaction with the event, and satisfaction in turn affected subjective well-being. Subjective well-being positively influenced organizational commitment. Ethnic identity had a mediating effect on the relation between subjective well-being and organizational commitment. This study highlights the importance of ethnic sport participants' subjective well-being in understanding how the quality of their experience makes them committed to an ethnic sport organization. Ethnic sporting events can implement the findings to facilitate an increase in the subjective well-being of their events' participants.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTIONS TO FESTIVAL CANCELLATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

There are many reasons organizations cancel a festival. Regardless of the rationale, the organization’s reputation can be preserved by communicating this crucial message in an appropriate way and by understanding people’s perception of a cancellation announcement. The purpose of this research is to find out how festival administrators communicate a festival cancellation on social media and how the attendees, who will ultimately determine the success or failure of a festival, react to this message. Between January - June 2018, we collected 47 festival cancellation messages on Facebook and the 8886 replies to these messages. We undertook a content analysis of both the cancellation message and the comments on the Facebook cancellation post. We found that most of the organizers used a primary response strategy, characterized by accepting blame to communicate the cancellation of the festival. This kind of response has a significant positive association with the comments characterized by building relationships. The sentiments in the cancellation posts were mainly shame and sadness and the comments on these posts were most often negative with sad and disgusted sentiments. Findings were somewhat consistent with past research and recommendations provide insight for further theoretical development.

Youthful Church: A Study Of British Christian Youth Events And Community Culture

Within contemporary culture, events dominate our leisure activities, and churches are not exempt from this trend. In the context of a study of church youth events, this research focuses on the wellbeing aspects of three growing churches and their youth events activities. In exploring the conceptualization of the eventization of faith, the research considers aspects of youth development, including wellbeing, from a Christian perspective. The aim of the paper is to identify and consider the influences of wellbeing in the purposes, content and outcomes of such faith events and their contribution to wellbeing in these temporary youthful church communities. It examines the concept of wellbeing through the cultural medium of events, focusing on case studies of the youth events of three independent, non-denominational, evangelical churches in the United Kingdom.

The Difference Diwali Makes: Understanding the Contribution of a Cultural Event to Subjective Well-Being for Ethnic Minority Communities

This research provides a nuanced understanding of the contribution of cultural events to subjective well-being for ethnic minority migrant communities, who often face significant challenges in their new lives. The paper investigates how the intersection of sense of community and subjective well-being function in this context. It focuses on the Hindu celebration of Diwali/Deepavali (the Festival of Lights) in two New Zealand cities. Data from interviews with event attendees and organisers was thematically analysed using the McMillan and Chavis ‘sense of community’ framework, overlaid with a conceptualisation of subjective well-being developed by Davidson and Cotter. The analysis reveals strong evidence of the creation and maintenance of sense of community at multiple levels, from the diasporic Indian subcommunities through to the wider non-Indian macrocommunity. The most significant components are membership, fulfilment of needs and shared emotional connection: they are also the most significant point of intersection with factors contributing to subjective well-being. These cultural events provide event attendees with opportunities to experience and express positive affects such as happiness, joy, pride, pleasure. They also demonstrate influence in that they respect, promote and support the ethnic minority migrant subcommunity and act as a bridge to form a sense of community with the macrocommunity through membership and shared emotional connection. To maximise these wider benefits, we recommend practitioners hold such events regularly, advertise widely, select venues that are readily accessible and non-threatening, and provide informative explanatory content.