PDA

View Full Version : Titans fans invited into study of tribalism in rugby



DIEHARD
25-02-08, 05:06 PM
An invitation to Titans fans to be involved in an international research project

Do you jump for joy when our team scores a try and stamp your feet in frustration when one of our boys drops a ball or misses a tackle?! Well, this probably describes most of us and as a result the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans senior management has agreed to participate in some ground breaking international research into fan behaviour.

Southern Cross University, located in Lismore, Australia is undertaking a study to investigate the tribal behaviour of rugby league and rugby union fans that support professional teams playing in both Australia and England. Senior Lecturer within the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management, Rudi Meir is conducting this as part of his PhD research.

"Fans are the lifeblood of any sport but even more so in professional team sports like rugby league and rugby union where their support through the good times and the bad can play a huge part in a club's survival. Yet we know very little about this aspect of being a fan and so this research is attempting to find answers to questions related to what it means to be a fan and how people actively involve themselves in supporting their team" said Rudi.

To this end Titans fans are being invited to participate in an online survey; so you can participate from the comfort of your own home! Titan management has agreed to be involved in this research because they see this as potentially being a valuable project that will add to the body of knowledge in sport marketing. Rudi also believes that ultimately it may well lead to strategies that work to further enhance the experience of fans in their support of our team.

Jetstar Gold Coast Titans CEO, Michael Searle said "The game and how the team performs on the field will always be the most important aspect of our sport to Titans fans. However, this research intends to establish what role supporting the team plays in a person's identity and how they relate to other Titans fans."

Click on the following hyperlink if you would like to volunteer to participate in this survey - read the "Welcome" page first, which outlines the nature of the research and your role. It takes about 20-25 minutes to complete, so put the jug on and sit down and tell us about your self!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=97MgDaNoHk1IWG8OHjtYxg_3d_3d (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=97MgDaNoHk1IWG8OHjtYxg_3d_3d)

Participation is completely anonymous and the project has been approved by the Southern Cross University Human Research Ethics Committee. This survey will only be available to access until the 30th March 2008.

Source: http://www.titans.com.au/

DIEHARD
25-02-08, 05:46 PM
Well I'm done with my submission. Doesn't take long at all and I encourage all Titans fans to take the survey and show what great and passionate fans we are. Just because we are brand new doesn't mean we are out classed. Quite the opposite.

Leeds Rhinos and South Sydney were also invited to take part, so let's show them who the best club is. Sure Souths were formed in 1908 and Leeds in 1864, but lets show them what the Titans founded in 2007 is made of.

I found it very interesting and I think the results of the study will help our sport better market itself and deliver better hospitality and experiences to fans.


Supporting the team makes me feel part of a larger “community” of fans that all support the team

Attending games, wearing team merchandise, singing team songs and chants, and cheering the team on are all important parts of being a fan

I like to contribute to the team’s web site fan forum and discuss with other fans how the team is performing and decisions being made by club management

I enjoy socialising with fellow fans and talking about the team, its history, current performances and its future

I really enjoy the company of fellow team fans

I like to participate in team songs, chants and attend matches with other team fans

Being a fan means that I also feel a sense of responsibility to the team

Other aspects of the match day experience (e.g. music, entertainment, competitions, crowd interaction, cheer squads, etc.) add to my enjoyment on match day

It is not essential that team fans live within the community where the team is based

There is a high degree of “quality” associated with my team and what it does

I feel like part of a group when I attend matches to support my team

When I sing songs or chants in support of my team I feel like part of a group

If I am at a game I feel like I can make a contribution to the team’s performance by cheering, shouting out support to my players, or shouting out to try and influence match officials or opposing players

Being able to stand/sit with my fellow fans all together is an important part of the match day experience for me

I often talk to complete strangers about my team because I see them wearing my team’s merchandise and I consider them to be a fellow fan (friendly)



Support of my team is more important to me than support for my national team

My team is seen as a “traditional” club

My team has a strong history

It is not important to actually know other fans personally

And I selected, I became a supporter of my team because it represents values that are important to me. for the reason I follow the Titans.

GCT_89
25-02-08, 06:38 PM
finished.......very interesting....hope it helps......

TITAN PETE
25-02-08, 10:31 PM
Done & I Love doing that SHYTE :D

DIEHARD
25-02-08, 11:22 PM
Done & I Love doing that SHYTE :D

It really makes you realise how special supporting your team is. We don't really reflect on it, we just do it.

I can't wait till this weekend at Skilled Park and we can continue to build our supporting tradition.

lonegull
26-02-08, 07:11 AM
all done, really good survey

DIEHARD
27-02-08, 02:09 AM
Thanks for your time GCT, Titan Pete and lonegull!

Any other Titans fans want to represent us? We don't want Souths and Leeds fans beating us!

We want to give them a lot of submissions from Gold Coast fans.

jenwood
27-02-08, 07:52 AM
Just completed the survey-interesting range of questions.

C-Whiz
27-02-08, 08:05 AM
Done! Took about 15 minutes. Now I'll just wait for the cheque to arrive......:p

dean
27-02-08, 08:25 PM
Done! I never realised that i was such a fanatic until i completed this survey.