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Six‐day racing entrepreneurs and the emergence of the twentieth century arena sportscape, 1891‐1912

Ari de Wilde (Department of Hospitality, Recreation and Sport Management, York College of Pennsylvania, York, Pennsylvania, USA)

Journal of Historical Research in Marketing

ISSN: 1755-750X

Article publication date: 2 November 2012

251

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore twentieth century sportscapes and their role in the development of urban arenas as places of sport.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing frame theory and sport business history scholarship, the author examines entrepreneurs' development of six‐day bicycle races at Madison Square Garden. The main primary sources include autobiographies, morgue files, and newspapers.

Findings

In this paper, it is argued that entrepreneurs' shaping and marketing of six‐day races and their sportscapes resulted in a popular sporting spectacle and helped to promote arenas as spaces and places of sport.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates the process and development of “frame management” in urban arenas and their transition to spaces and places of sport. By exploring six‐day bicycle races at Madison Square Garden, the paper shows the importance of a now‐forgotten cultural event to the development of the multi‐billion dollar sport industry and to one of the world's most iconic arenas. The paper adds to scholarship on bicycle racing and marketing history, as well as the historiography of the sport industry.

Keywords

Citation

de Wilde, A. (2012), "Six‐day racing entrepreneurs and the emergence of the twentieth century arena sportscape, 1891‐1912", Journal of Historical Research in Marketing, Vol. 4 No. 4, pp. 532-553. https://doi.org/10.1108/17557501211281879

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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