To read this content please select one of the options below:

Sponsoring of professional cycling: what does it mean for stock prices?

Morten Halsteinli Drivdal (Oslo Business School, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway)
Helge A. Nordahl (Oslo Business School, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway)
Håkon Rønes (Oslo Business School, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway)

International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship

ISSN: 1464-6668

Article publication date: 5 February 2018

606

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess how sponsorships affect firm values in professional cycling. Both the effect of entering a sponsorship contract and reactions to good or bad news during the contract period are investigated. Doping scandals are used as examples of bad news and race wins as examples of good news.

Design/methodology/approach

The well-known event-study methodology of analyzing stock prices is used. In order to avoid unnecessary noise, the main emphasis is on short-term stock market effects.

Findings

The main original finding is a significant negative reaction to doping scandals within the sponsored team, indicating that the outcome of sponsoring agreements is important for investors. There are no significant stock market reactions to the announcement of sponsorships, hence sponsoring cycling teams in general are perceived as value neutral to the sponsor.

Originality/value

The paper encourages sponsors and cycling teams to focus on anti-doping measures as doping scandals are perceived as value destructive. This contradicts previous studies with smaller data samples. The negative impact of doping scandals outweighs the potential positive effects of winning cycling races.

Keywords

Citation

Drivdal, M.H., Nordahl, H.A. and Rønes, H. (2018), "Sponsoring of professional cycling: what does it mean for stock prices?", International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, Vol. 19 No. 1, pp. 74-90. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSMS-09-2016-0070

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles