Attendance demand and core support: evidence from limited-overs cricket

In this paper we construct and estimate a model for match attendances in English one-day, limited-overs league cricket. Our dataset separates 'pay at gate' spectators from club members, enabling us to distinguish between the attendance decisions of casual spectators and those of the, potentially, more committed 'core' supporters. In addition to providing a more direct analysis of the relatively underdeveloped issue of 'core support', we also investigate variability within the core. Apart from providing further evidence regarding demand determination in professional team sports we consider some specific policy implications particular to the 'peculiar' sport of cricket.