International Journal of Sport Management

Impact of Negative Media Stories on Fan Perceptions and Behavior Toward Rival Teams

Cody T. Havard, Terry Eddy

Abstract: This preliminary study tested how a fan’s assessment of severity of rival indiscretions influence perceptions of rival teams and their likelihood to celebrate failures of those rival teams. Fans of professional sport teams were exposed to one of three descriptions of rival indiscretions that varied in level of severity (i.e., Slightly Negative, Moderately Negative, Very Negative), and then asked to report their perceptions of their rival team and likelihood to celebrate rival team failure. Results showed that the ways fans assessed or evaluated rival indiscretions influenced their perceptions and likelihood to experience schadenfreude toward the rival team. Discussion focuses on implications for academics and practitioners, and introduces avenues for future study.

Keywords: rivalry, fan rival perceptions, schadenfreude, GORFing, rival indiscretions

Citation: Havard, C. T., & Eddy, T. (2019). Impact of negative media stories on fan perceptions and behavior toward rival teams. International Journal of Sport Management, 20(2), 150-170.

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