The collective influence of destination personality and affective image on overall image formation of a domestic urban destination and subsequently its influence on tourists’ behavioral intentions were examined in this study. The sample consisted of 361 urban tourists and included both past visitors and nonvisitors of the urban destination under study. Data analysis confirmed the influential role of destination personality and affective image in the formation of overall destination image in both samples. In turn, overall image was a mediator of the relationships of destination personality and affective image with tourists’ behavioral intentions (i.e., intention to revisit the urban destination and intention to recommend the destination to others). Analysis of the data supported a two-factor solution of the destination personality construct, with the personality traits of sincerity and excitement emerging in the domestic urban context to influence past visitors’ and nonvisitors’ overall destination image perceptions.

With the growth in the opportunities for amateur athletes to take part in competitive events it is becoming apparent that there is a need to separate active sport tourists into two types: non-event (e.g. golf, skiing) and event. Active event sport tourism constitutes travel to take part in various organized events from the hallmark New York and London Marathons to the pervasive small scale sports events hosted by communities' world wide. Understanding the variables that influence active sport tourism behaviors within the context of recurring smaller scale sports events has not been widely observed in the sport and tourism literature. This study investigated whether past participation, attitudes toward event participation, satisfaction with the sport event and destination image predict intentions to participate in a sport event again. Data were collected from 112 active event sport tourists of a small recurring sports event: the Senior Games. Mail and online questionnaires were used based on participant event registration mode. Path analysis was used to evaluate the model of this study. The results revealed mediation effects of attitudes between satisfaction and intentions to participate in the event again and destination image and intentions. The importance of collaborations between destination marketers and event organizers is discussed along with the significance of satisfaction as a driver of attitude formation and behavioral intentions.

The purpose of the study was to explore the role of mega-event impacts on perceived satisfaction with quality of life and support among South African residents before and after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Limited research has empirically tested whether quality of life (QOL) is perceived as an exchange benefit that facilitates resident support of mega-events. Intercept data were collected from residents in five host cities three months before (March 2010) and eight months after (March 2011) the event (N = 3,789). Results indicate significant differences in perceived impacts before and after the event. Before the event, the influence of political impacts, psychological impacts, and social benefits on perceived QOL was significant, while QOL mediated the relationships between political, psychological, and social benefit impacts and resident support. After the event, economic impacts emerged as a significant predictor of QOL in contrast to the preevent sample.

The consumption of sport events through direct participation can influence participants’ perception of happiness with that experiential purchase given the time and resources invested in that experience. The purpose of the study was to examine how sport event service quality aspects operationalized through the physical environment, interaction, and outcome factors influence overall satisfaction with the event and experiential happiness. Data were collected from 300 runners who participated in 5k and 10k races. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed the positive effect of outcome and physical environment factors on satisfaction with the event and the positive influence of event satisfaction and outcome quality on experiential happiness. The overall expectations on the quality of the event experience can be a focus for event managers aiming to achieve social marketing goals related to positive psychology from the event participation.

The importance of legacy evaluation for Olympic host cities is noted in sport, tourism, economic, and sociological journals. However, there was lack of empirical evidence of the Olympic Games long-term effects in local societies. Thus, this study explored the importance of legacy outcomes for residents' quality of life in four Summer Olympic cities: Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, and Beijing. The study utilized survey research with the four cities residents. The questionnaires reflected the Olympic Games legacy outcomes as noted in International Olympic Committee official final Olympic Games reports. ANOVA and t-tests were used to estimate how significant the outcomes were and whether demographics influenced residents' perceptions across the four cities. The results suggest that residents of Atlanta and Sydney value outcomes from the Games such as emotional investment and spaces associated with the Games that have a socialization dimension higher than residents of Athens and Beijing who value the more tangible outcomes as more important for their quality of life. All residents evaluated the importance of the outcomes for their quality of life in a positive light but differences were found within the different demographic profiles of the residents.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions related to spectator’s transportation to collegiate football events is a significant consideration in the overall carbon footprint of collegiate sporting events. Transportation mode affects CO₂ emissions per spectator and stadium location, specifically on- and off-campus locations affect the transportation mode chosen by spectators. The quantity of CO₂ emissions generated from spectators’ transportation to collegiate sporting events at an on-campus university stadium is compared to off-campus stadium. The transportation modes and miles traveled by spectators were modeled with GREET 2016 to estimate CO₂ emissions. Significant differences were found between the two stadium locations regarding the spectators’ choice of transportation mode and distance traveled. Implications are presented for environmental sustainability and planning.