Travel of athletic teams and sports marketing strategies are closely linked with airport management and airport-based marketing strategies. For example, Miami International Airport developed a sports ..
Travel of athletic teams and sports marketing strategies are closely linked with airport management and airport-based marketing strategies. For example, Miami International Airport developed a sports charter terminal for making travel more convenient for athletes and for developing sports tourism in the area. This sports terminal is the first of its kind and has the potential for demonstrating how airport innovations can create new trends in the world of sports. Another example of the significance of airports for sports management and commercialization is promoting major sporting events through airports, which are involved in transportation of both athletes and their fans. In particular, the creation of fan zones at Munich, Singapore, and Doha airports for the 2018 FIFA World Cup represents an effective method of both advertising the sporting event and gives travelers a distinctive, memorable opportunity to watch the matches. Finally, many major airports have sports collectible stores so that travelers can get a jersey or mug representing the home team. Local airports become embodiments of the sports identity of their cities. Such examples demonstrate the significance of airports for improved sports travel as well as their potential for advertising and brand marketing. This presentation contributes to ongoing research in sports management and commercialization by identifying the distinctive contributions of airports.