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Team Identity is a socio-psychological construct that has been purported to mediate the relation between sport fan motives and team loyalty. This relation has been inferred but never empirically tested. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to test the proposition that team identity mediates the relationship between sport fan motives and team loyalty. With the advent of valid and reliable survey instruments to assess the motivation, team identity, and team loyalty constructs it is now possible to empirically investigate the mediating role of team identity in the relation between sport fan motives and team loyalty. To empirically test the mediating role of team identity, the latest and most valid and reliable survey instruments available (e.g., Sports Interest Inventory and Team ID) were used. Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the mediational effect of team identity. Results showed that there is sufficient evidence to support the mediational role of team identity in the relation between sport fan motives and team loyalty.

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He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Lock Haven University in Health Sciences. He received a master´s degree from the United States Sports Academy, where he completed his Doctor of Education in Sport Management.He is a Strength and Conditioning Specialist and an American College of Sport Medicine Health and Fitness Instructor.

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