Podcast blurb: Fandom is an interesting and fascinating topic in events and general sociology, driving some unique consumer behaviours. It is the recognition of a personal, mostly positive, relatively deep, cognitive and emotional connection with an element of society, e.g., a person, an art work, part of popular culture such as movies, shows, music, sports, etc. Understanding fandom from social psychology and environmental psychology enables us in comprehending how pop culture influences us maintaining and exerting our social identities, regulating our social behaviours in interacting others and the society, and helping communities build meanings and integrity. This is specifically meaningful in discussing consumer behaviours in events, and their long-term impact to destinations and society.

Chris’s bio: Dr Ning (Chris) Chen is a senior lecturer in marketing based at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. His primary areas of research interest include identity and attachment theory in different context including place, branding, and sports, and the motivations and impact of fandom especially in sports. Dr. Chen has published numerous manuscripts in top marketing and tourism academic journals, book chapters, as well as authored books including one on Digital Sports Marketing. Dr Chen serves as an associate editor for Event Management, and sits on several other editorial boards of academic journals.

Further reading and resources:

Ding M., Chen N. and Shen L. (2019) Digital sports marketing. Tsinghua University Press.

Duffett, M. (2013). Understanding fandom: An introduction to the study of media fan culture. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.

Funk, D. C., & James, J. (2001). The psychological continuum model: A conceptual framework for understanding an individual's psychological connection to sport. Sport Management Review, 4(2), 119-150.

Gray, J., Sandvoss, C., & Harrington, C. L. (Eds.). (2017). Fandom: Identities and communities in a mediated world. NYU Press.

Jiang, Y., & Chen, N. (2019). Event attendance motives, host city evaluation, and behavioral intentions: An empirical study of Rio 2016. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 31(8), 3270-3286.