Gidon Jakar, Kiernan Gordon

Abstract: This study examines local crime during competitions played by the four, major, professional, sport teams in those teams’ nominal city: Dallas, Texas. Negative binomial regression analyses focus on count data for the entire city on a daily and hourly basis (n=48,824) between January 2015 and December 2019. Results indicate an apparent decrease in the number of incidents in Dallas when the Dallas Cowboys (NFL) play, whether home or away. In practice, this study suggests that the NFL generally, and the Cowboys specifically, may have an opportunity to engage a captive audience with messaging that promotes prosocial behaviors and denounces crime.

Keywords: crime, sport events externalities

Citation: Jakar, G., & Gordon, K. (2024). Crime in the nominal city: An examination of the relationship between criminal incidents and professional sport venues in Dallas, Texas. International Journal of Sport Management, 25(1), 50-72.

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