A comparative study on female top sports leagues between Japan and the United States.

本研究的目的是通过考察日本女子体育联赛观众特征的差异，为日本女子体育联赛的发展提供有用的信息。在日本的联盟和美国的WUSA。本研究以洛杉矶职业足球联赛三场常规赛的观众为研究对象，采用自填式问卷调查的方法，探讨不同联赛的运作方式对观众的影响。2001年6月至11月，联盟和WUSA。研究人员共收集了1,312份回复（314份来自L。两个联赛的比较结果显示：1）美国女子足球联赛62.1%的观众是女性，而美国女子足球联赛72.1%的观众是女性;（2）94.2%的WUSA观众是和家人或朋友一起来观看比赛的，而40.2%的L。3）1999年女足世界杯足球赛的火爆引发了WUSA的大规模普及，73.8%的WUSA女性观众更喜欢女足而不是男足。联赛和WUSA都受到足球兴趣、审美、比赛戏剧性和恶劣环境等因素的影响。WUSA的观众，特别是女性观众，非常重视妇女体育的榜样作用和支持。另一方面，L.结果表明，美国女子足球运动的流行主要是基于以下因素：1）WWC 99的成功，2）女性星星球员作为实现性别平等的榜样，3）女性支持女子体育运动的意愿，4）女性运动员的积极性，5）女性运动员的积极性，6）女性运动员的积极性，7）女性运动员的积极性。（4）观赏性体育运动作为一种健康的娱乐活动，可以与家人和/或朋友一起享受。

The purpose of this study was to obtain useful information for developing female sports leagues in Japan by examining the differences of spectators' characteristics in the L. League in Japan and the WUSA in the States. Large differences in operating the leagues were expected to have a large affect on their spectators.The data were collected by a self-administrated questionnaire for spectators at three regular season games of the L. League and the WUSA between June and November in 2001. Researchers collected a total of 1,312 responses (314 from the L. League and 998 from the WUSA).A comparison between the two leagues revealed: 1) 62.1% of attendance was female in the WUSA while 72.1% in the L. League was male; 2) 94.2% of attendance in the WUSA came to the games with their family and/or friends while 40.2% in the L. League came alone, 3) Triggered by the booming of the Women's World Cup in 1999 (WWC99), the WUSA poses a large popularity, and 73.8% of female spectators in the WUSA preferred female soccer to male soccer.As to the socio-psychological factors, spectators in the L. League and the WUSA were both affected by the factors of Interest in Soccer, Aesthetics, Drama of Game, and Wholesome Environment. Spectators in the WUSA especially females placed importance on Role Model and Support Women's Sport. On the other hand, the L. League spectators were well connected with the factors of Vicarious Achievement, Entertainment, and Interest in Player.These findings suggested that the popularity of female soccer in the United States was based on the following factors: 1) success of the WWC99; 2) existence of female star players as role models for realization of gender equity; 3) women's will for support of women's sport; and 4) status of spectator sport as a healthy entertainment one can enjoy with one's family and/or friends.