2014 Volume 24 Issue 2 Pages 2_195-2_210
In recent years, the relationship between sports teams and the local community has been gaining attention among researchers. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the effects of sense of community and team reputation on team identity. We conducted a questionnaire survey at a stadium, targeting fans of a J-League soccer club, to collect data on team reputation and sense of community. Analyzing this data revealed that although there was no statistically significant difference in the direct effect that sense of community has on team identity, it was shown that team reputation had a significant, positive relationship with team identity. Furthermore, while there was no direct, significant relationship between sense of community and team identity, the fact that sense of community had a significant and positive effect on team reputation clearly demonstrates that team identity will increase in sports teams in local communities that have a strong reputation.