Do close-call games attract more fans?

Abstract

The idea of “competitive balance,” i.e. the idea that sports leagues need uncertainty in the outcomes of their games to attract fans, is widely accepted. However, there are cases where the effects of hormones and neurotransmitters (including cortisol, testosterone and dopamine) will likely counteract the effects of competitive balance. This paper explored the validity of competitive balance and its effect on the number of spectators at sports games using quantitative analyses, along with consideration of other social, economic, and demographic factors. In contrast to previous observations, the concept of competitive balance was only partially confirmed as attracting large numbers of fans to Korean professional baseball league.