Stadium construction and the distribution of winning percentages in the English and Scottish football leagues, 1888-89 to 1938-9

Lionel Frost; Luc Borrowman; Vinod Mishra; Abdel Halabi

doi:10.4337/9781788977845.00011

Stadium construction and the distribution of winning percentages in the English and Scottish football leagues, 1888-89 to 1938-9

Lionel Frost, Luc Borrowman, Vinod Mishra, Abdel Halabi

Department of Economics

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review

Abstract

We test for a relationship between the distribution of winning percentages (i.e. competitive balance) and average home attendance in the English Football League and Scottish Football League from their foundation to the start of the Second World War. While the English League was more competitively balanced, with success distributed across multiple cities, for most clubs spectator demand was unresponsive to winning percentages and uncertainty of match outcomes. We extend the analysis by considering whether on-field success predicts increases in stadium capacity, which would allow further increases in attendance, revenue and investment in playing talent.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Historical Perspectives on Sports Economics
Subtitle of host publication	Lessons from the Field
Editors	John K. Wilson, Richard Pomfret
Place of Publication	Cheltenham UK
Publisher	Edward Elgar Publishing
Chapter	4
Pages	37-51
Number of pages	15
Edition	1st
ISBN (Electronic)	9781788977845
ISBN (Print)	9781788977838
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788977845.00011
Publication status	Published - 2019

Publication series

Name	New Horizons in the Economics of Sport series
Publisher	Edward Elgar Publishing

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10.4337/9781788977845.00011

Cite this

Frost, L., Borrowman, L., Mishra, V., & Halabi, A. (2019). Stadium construction and the distribution of winning percentages in the English and Scottish football leagues, 1888-89 to 1938-9. In J. K. Wilson, & R. Pomfret (Eds.), Historical Perspectives on Sports Economics: Lessons from the Field (1st ed., pp. 37-51). (New Horizons in the Economics of Sport series). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788977845.00011

Frost, Lionel ; Borrowman, Luc ; Mishra, Vinod et al. / Stadium construction and the distribution of winning percentages in the English and Scottish football leagues, 1888-89 to 1938-9. Historical Perspectives on Sports Economics: Lessons from the Field. editor / John K. Wilson ; Richard Pomfret. 1st. ed. Cheltenham UK : Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019. pp. 37-51 (New Horizons in the Economics of Sport series).

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abstract = "We test for a relationship between the distribution of winning percentages (i.e. competitive balance) and average home attendance in the English Football League and Scottish Football League from their foundation to the start of the Second World War. While the English League was more competitively balanced, with success distributed across multiple cities, for most clubs spectator demand was unresponsive to winning percentages and uncertainty of match outcomes. We extend the analysis by considering whether on-field success predicts increases in stadium capacity, which would allow further increases in attendance, revenue and investment in playing talent.",

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Frost, L, Borrowman, L, Mishra, V & Halabi, A 2019, Stadium construction and the distribution of winning percentages in the English and Scottish football leagues, 1888-89 to 1938-9. in JK Wilson & R Pomfret (eds), Historical Perspectives on Sports Economics: Lessons from the Field. 1st edn, New Horizons in the Economics of Sport series, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham UK, pp. 37-51. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788977845.00011

Stadium construction and the distribution of winning percentages in the English and Scottish football leagues, 1888-89 to 1938-9. / Frost, Lionel; Borrowman, Luc; Mishra, Vinod et al.
Historical Perspectives on Sports Economics: Lessons from the Field. ed. / John K. Wilson; Richard Pomfret. 1st. ed. Cheltenham UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019. p. 37-51 (New Horizons in the Economics of Sport series).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review

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Frost L, Borrowman L, Mishra V, Halabi A. Stadium construction and the distribution of winning percentages in the English and Scottish football leagues, 1888-89 to 1938-9. In Wilson JK, Pomfret R, editors, Historical Perspectives on Sports Economics: Lessons from the Field. 1st ed. Cheltenham UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. 2019. p. 37-51. (New Horizons in the Economics of Sport series). doi: 10.4337/9781788977845.00011

Stadium construction and the distribution of winning percentages in the English and Scottish football leagues, 1888-89 to 1938-9

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