Online ISSN 2286-0266
Print ISSN 1223-0685
© 2024 Œconomica by ASE & SOREC
 
Vlad I. ROŞCA
Academia de Studii Economice din Bucureşti
Using attendance figures and an independent variable consisting of a sports performance indicator, the paper tries to find out whether sporting performance has had any influence on attendances during the 2014/2015 season of the Romanian football championship (Liga 1). To sustain this goal, the research question asks if there is any statistical correlation between the two variables. This is, thus, a bivariate analysis, starting from previous similar research in other European countries and trying to identify if the same applies for Romania. Findings indicate a moderate correlation, next to several interesting facts about Romanian football obtained with the help of the descriptive statistics employed (mainly standard deviations and means). The environment is characterized by high turbulences, with no pattern identifiable as a rule that might explain the situation in detail. After interpreting the descriptive statistics, the research concludes with some of the reasons that have led to a loss of spectator interest, two of the most important being the delocalization of teams and the breaking from traditions, both negatively mirrored in local communities.

ŒCONOMICA no. 2/2017
Keywords: sports economy, attendances, demand for sports, football
JEL: A19, L83, M20, M31
Hitting the Post: A Statistical Analysis on Declining Attendance Figures in the Romanian Liga 1 Football Championship (2014/2015)