This study extends the Sports Interest Inventory (SII) model, to better characterize the motivations of Chinese female football supporters in the digital age. A questionnaire was administered to Chinese female football audiences following professional football games, adapting the SII model to include gender-specific factors. The research aims to challenge prevailing stereotypes in the Chinese media environment, which often portray female supporters as primarily motivated by peer influence and the appeal of star players. The findings reveal that among 15 identified motivation factors, Peer Influence ranks the lowest, and Interest in Player is the 9th most significant. These results suggest that the current media narratives do not accurately reflect the true motivations of Chinese female football supporters. The study provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners in sports marketing and event management, offering a nuanced understanding that can inform future strategies to better engage and support female spectators at mega sports events.

Yudan Pang. Exploring the Motivations of Chinese Female Football Supporters. Frontiers in Sport Research (2024) Vol. 6, Issue 6: 92-99. https://doi.org/10.25236/FSR.2024.060615.

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