Abstract The present study investigates the influence the organizing body’s reputation has on the image of a sports mega-event and on the mega-event sponsors’ consumer-based brand equities. The study's main theoretical references are Associative Network Theory (Collins & Loftus, 1975) and Schema Theory (Axelrod, 1973), both about the functioning of the human memory. The research was carried out during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilians and foreigners who attended the 2014 FIFA Fan Fest on Copacabana Beach were surveyed through a non-probabilistic sampling, and 1,973 questionnaires were collected. Data analysis was performed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). We verified the reliability, convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity of the constructs. In order to test the substantive hypotheses, we applied Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using an Asymptotic Distribution-Free (ADF) technique. The empirical results suggest that FIFA’s reputation influences the image of the FIFA World Cup, but may not directly influence the sponsors’ consumer-based brand equities. We also verified that the perception of fit between the mega-event and the sponsor plays a partial mediating effect on the relationship between the image of the mega-event and the sponsor's brand equity.

Resumo Este caso para ensino descreve o desafio de Sergio Lyra, CEO da Team Nogueira, rede de academias de ginástica fundada pelos irmãos Rodrigo e Rogério Nogueira, dois dos maiores lutadores da história do Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) mundial, que haviam transformado seu centro de treinamento em uma academia e, posteriormente, em uma rede de franquias. Em 2015, a Team Nogueira contava com mais de trinta academias por todo o Brasil, no entanto, a desaceleração da popularização da modalidade, aliada à crise econômica que assolava o país e à aposentadoria dos irmãos que davam nome à rede, criavam um cenário de incertezas e preocupações. Esse caso serve de pano de fundo para a discussão sobre a aplicação do marketing no contexto esportivo, permitindo a discussão sobre os desafios relacionados ao alinhamento entre segmentação, seleção do mercado-alvo e posicionamento. Portanto, o caso é recomendado para a disciplina de Fundamentos de Marketing ou Marketing Esportivo em cursos de graduação e pós-graduação, nas sessões dedicadas à discussão sobre segmentação, posicionamento competitivo ou estratégia de marketing.

Abstract This case study describes the challenges faced by Sergio Lyra, CEO of Team Nogueira, a network of gymnasiums founded by the brothers Rodrigo and Rogério Nogueira, two of the greatest fighters in the history of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), who had transformed their training center into a gym, and later into a franchise network. In 2015, Team Nogueira had more than thirty academies throughout Brazil. However, the slowdown in the popularization of the sport, coupled with the economic crisis that plagued the country and the retirement of the brothers that gave its name to the network created a scenario of uncertainties and concerns. This case serves as a background for the discussion on the application of marketing in the sporting context, allowing discussion about the challenges related to the alignment between segmentation, target market selection and positioning. Therefore, the case is recommended for Fundamentals of Marketing or Sports Marketing classes in undergraduate and postgraduate courses, in sessions dedicated to the discussion of segmentation, competitive positioning or marketing strategy.

RESUMO Desde que foi escolhido como sede da Copa do Mundo de 2014 e dos Jogos Olímpicos de 2016, o montante de receitas movimentado pelo patrocínio esportivo no Brasil têm crescido significativamente, entretanto, sem que a prática gerencial e a pesquisa acadêmica tenham se desenvolvido no mesmo ritmo. O presente estudo, que visa contribuir para o avanço do conhecimento sobre tema, investigou o impacto da identificação regional do patrocinador e da congruência entre time e patrocinador no valor da marca do patrocinador. As principais referências teóricas do estudo são a teoria da identidade social (TAJFEL; TURNER, 1979), a teoria do esquema (AXELROD, 1973), a teoria da rede associativa (COLLINS; LOFTUS, 1975) e o valor da marca na perspectiva do consumidor (KELLER, 1993). A pesquisa foi realizada em Porto Alegre, capital do Rio Grande do Sul (RS), estado marcado pela valorização da cultura regional gaúcha. A amostra foi não-probabilística, composta por 2.116 fãs de Grêmio e Internacional. Foi analisada a relação entre os dois times as marcas Banrisul e a Unimed Porto Alegre, patrocinadoras de ambos os clubes há mais de dez anos. A análise dos dados foi realizada utilizando a Análise Fatorial Exploratória e Análise Fatorial Confirmatória; e foram verificados a confiabilidade e as validades convergente, discriminante e nomológica dos construtos. Para testar as hipóteses substantivas, foi aplicada a Modelagem de Equações Estruturais, usando a técnica ADF. Os resultados empíricos sugerem que o valor da marca do patrocinador é influenciado principalmente de forma indireta pela identificação regional do patrocinador, dado que este efeito é mediado parcialmente pela congruência entre time e patrocinador.

ABSTRACT Since it was chosen as the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games host country, the amount of sport sponsorship revenues in Brazil have grown significantly, however, without the managerial practice and academic research having evolved at the same pace. The present study, that aims to develop the knowledge about the theme, investigated the impact of the sponsor’s regional identification and team-sponsor fit on the sponsor's brand equity. The study’s main theoretical references are the Social Identity Theory (TAJFEL; TURNER, 1979), the Schema Theory (AXELROD, 1973), the Associative Network Theory (COLLINS; LOFTUS, 1975) and the customer-based brand equity (KELLER, 1993). Research was conducted in Porto Alegre, capital of the Rio Grande do Sul (RS), state marked by the appreciation of its regional culture. The sample was non-probabilistic, composed by 2,116 fans of Grêmio and Internacional. The relation between the two teams and the brands Banrisul and Unimed Porto Alegre, sponsors of both clubs for over ten years, was analyzed. Data analysis was performed using Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis; and the reliability, convergent; discriminant and nomological validity of the constructs were verified. To test the substantive hypotheses, Structural Equation Modeling using the ADF technique was applied. The empirical results suggest that the sponsor’s brand equity is indirectly influenced by the sponsor’s regional identification, since this effect is partially mediated by the team-sponsor fit.

RESUMEN Desde que fue escogido como sed de la Copa Mundial de Fútbol de 2014 y de los Juegos Olímpicos de 2016, la suma de ingresos movida por el patrocinio deportivo en Brasil viene creciendo significativamente. Entretanto, sin que la práctica en gestión y en investigación académica se hayan desarrollado en el mismo ritmo. El presente estudio, que busca contribuir para el avanzo del conocimiento sobre el tema, ha investigado el impacto de la identificación regional del patrocinador y de la congruencia entre equipo y patrocinador en el valor de la marca del patrocinador. Las primeras referencias teóricas del estudio son la teoría de la identidad social (TAJFEL; TURNER, 1979), la teoría del esquema (AXELROD, 1973), la teoría de la red asociativa (COLLINS; LOFTUS, 1975) y el valor de la marca en la perspectiva del consumidor (KELLER, 1993). La investigación fue realizada en Porto Alegre, capital de Rio Grande del Sur (RS), provincia marcada por la valorización de la cultura regional del gaucho. La muestra fue no probabilística, compuesta por 2.116 seguidores de los dos equipos de fútbol Grêmio e Internacional. Fue analizada la relación entre dos de los equipos y las marcas Banrisul y Unimed Porto Alegre, patrocinadoras de ambos los equipos hace más de diez años. El análisis de los datos fue realizado utilizando el Análisis Factorial Exploratorio y el Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio; y fueran verificadas la fiabilidad y la validez convergente, discriminante y nomológico de los constructos. Para probar las hipótesis substantivas, fue aplicado el Modelado de Ecuaciones Estructurales, utilizando la técnica ADF. Los resultados empíricos sugieren que el valor de la marca del patrocinador es influenciado principalmente de forma indirecta por la identificación regional del patrocinador, una vez que el efecto es mediado parcialmente por la congruencia entre equipo y patrocinador.

The present study investigated the impact of team identification and team-sponsor fit on the sponsor's brand equity. The study's main theoretical references are (a) the Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979); (b) the Schema Theory (Singer, 1968) and (c) the Associative Network Theories (Collins & Loftus, 1975), both about the functioning of the human memory; and (d) customer-based brand equity (Keller, 1993). Research was conducted in Porto Alegre, RS, a Brazilian city where rival football (soccer) teams Grêmio and Internacional share their main sponsors, Banrisul and Unimed, since 2001 and 2002, respectively, a rare context that was previously studied only once before (Davies, Veloutsou, & Costa, 2006). The valid sample comprised 2,000 fans of both teams. The sample was non-probabilistic with equal gender and team quotas. Data analysis was performed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA); and the reliability, convergent, discriminant and nomological validity of the constructs were verified. To test the substantive hypotheses, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using the ADF technique was applied. The empirical results suggest that, in the studied context, the sponsor's brand equity is more influenced by team-sponsor fit than by team identification, which is different from a non-rivalry sponsorship context.