‘A Reputation to Protect’: Sport-Team Reputation as a Strategic Source of Brand Equity

Abstract This study investigates how sports team reputation shapes brand equity through consumers’ relationship satisfaction, life satisfaction, and commitment. Data were collected from India in two stages, with 523 responses used to test relationships among constructs via structural equation modelling. Barring the effects of social responsibility and financial soundness on relationship satisfaction and the effect of life satisfaction on team brand equity, all hypothesised relationships were significant. Self-congruity also positively moderated relationship satisfaction outcomes, including sport-team heritage, spectator orientation, and management style dimensions. The study’s findings provide important insights for managers, highlighting the crucial role of a strong reputation in building consumer-team loyalty. Our research suggests that marketing strategies should focus on enhancing consumer self-identification by involving fans in on-field and off-field successes to foster meaningful connections.