The African sport fan and a mega-event: implications for the Durban 2022 Commonwealth Games in South Africa

• Main Authors: Tembi Maloney Tichaawa, Urmilla Bob
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AfricaJournals 2016-01-01
• Series: African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure
• Subjects: African sport fans; mega-events; travel motive; constraints
• Online Access: http://www.ajhtl.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_10_vol_5__1__2016.pdf

The purpose of this article is to profile African sport fans in relation to the hosting of mega and largescale events. The aim is to determine their profiles, participation and challenges experienced with a view to inform the hosting of future events such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban, South Africa. A quantitative methodological approach within a case study design was undertaken in two case study countries (Cameroon and Nigeria). Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 771 soccer fans across both study areas. The findings reveal African fans to be fairly young male and well educated but earning a low income. The data also showed their level of attendance at mega-events was quite low owing to the high level of costs associated with travelling and purchasing tickets for the event. The article recommends the need for the 2022 Commonwealth Games organisers to take cognisance of such challenges when implementing pricing and ticketing strategies. Maximising African fans’ participation at future events will require robust thinking in relation to the pricing involved in terms of travel and game tickets.