Retrospection and state of sports marketing and sponsorship research in IJSMS from 1999 to 2015
Authors: Jin Chang-Hyun 
Published: October 2017

Purpose
Based on the increasing significance and proliferation of sports marketing and sponsorship, it is important to explore the state of sports marketing and sponsorship research, assess the development of sponsorship-related research, and grasp its future directions. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to help scholars understand future research directions to improve our knowledge of sports marketing and sponsorship.

Design/methodology/approach
This study used content analysis that incorporated three multidimensional measures and applied social network analysis in order to identify the knowledge structure of sponsorship research. The authors conducted content analysis to assess the status of the nature of sports marketing and sponsorship in the International Journal of Sports Marketing & Sponsorship (IJSMS). The authors coded 282 articles published in the IJSMS from 1999 through 2015 using three multidimensional measures.

Findings
Analyzing research trends in specific academic fields helps improve and provide understanding of research practices and future research directions to improve knowledge, in this case about sports marketing and sponsorship. This study is the most up-to-date research trend study regarding sports marketing and sponsorship (December 2015). Compared with previous trend studies that have focused on research purpose, research perspective, statistical method, and subject area, this study offers a more detailed analysis based on a wider set of concepts such as game types, individual authors, affiliated organizations, countries of origin, etc. Furthermore, social network analysis was used to identify the knowledge structure of sponsorship research in the IJSMS. The study provides valuable insight into the challenges marketers and scholars face as they implement a more market-centric business strategy.

Research limitations/implications
The study aims to highlight the knowledge structure of sports marketing and sponsorship using social networking analysis. In order to highlight specific research area trends, the process of development should be explored together with the intellectual structure of sports marketing and sponsorship research using “Author Co-citation Analysis”. Such an analysis would provide the advantage of incorporating the development process into sports marketing and sponsorship research.

Practical implications
Marketers and researchers have long explored the effects of sponsorship, an alternative marketing strategy to commercial advertising that involves placement of brand images and logos on athletes’ uniform and equipment as well as on structural elements of sports venues. Sponsoring the Olympic Games or the World Cup enables marketers to leverage the exposure made possible at a global sporting event, producing favorable responses to sponsoring companies. From a marketing communication perspective, this study makes a valuable contribution to the literature by reviewing the diversity of articles and the knowledge structure of those articles. The results should benefit marketing studies by offering crucial strategic implications for marketers seeking to adopt future sponsorship strategies.

Originality/value
The results provide valuable insights that can improve the understanding of the knowledge structure of sports marketing and sponsorship and suggest planning and directions for research on similar topics. This study’s findings provide insight into the challenges marketers and managers of corporate sports marketing firms face as they implement a more market-centric business strategy.