Determinants of Attendance in Major League Soccer

Journal of Sport Management, Forthcoming

36 Pages Posted: 19 Dec 2018 Last revised: 22 May 2019

Date Written: April 30, 2019

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of Major League Soccer team attendance during the league’s recent era of growth. Estimates indicate that regular-season on-field performance is positively associated with attendance, but the returns to success are diminishing. Positive novelty effects are identified for newer teams and soccer-specific stadiums but not for stadium age. Income is positively associated with attendance, indicating that MLS matches are a normal good. Population size, the Hispanic share of population, the presence of other major-league franchises, and the number of designated players on a team do not appear to be strong determinants of seasonal attendance.

Keywords: soccer, attendance, consumer demand for sports, novelty effect

JEL Classification: Z21, L83

Suggested Citation

Bradbury, John Charles, Determinants of Attendance in Major League Soccer (April 30, 2019). Journal of Sport Management, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3293819 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3293819

John Charles Bradbury (Contact Author)

Kennesaw State University ( email )

Dept. of Economics, Finance, and Quant. Analysis
560 Parliament Garden Way NW
Kennesaw, GA 30144
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
514
Abstract Views
1,741
Rank
100,499
PlumX Metrics