THE DEMAND FOR SEMI-PRO-LEAGUE FOOTBALL IN MALAYSIA 1989-91 - A PANEL-DATA APPROACH

This article augments the literature on the demand for professional te am sports by estimating a demand function for attendance at home match es in the Malaysian Semi-Pro Football League (MSPFL) between 1989 and 1991. A single-equation demand (attendance) function based on a pooled cross-section and time-series panel data set of 399 games is estimate d by ordinary least squares, a fixed effects dummy variable covariance model and an error components model. Our findings confirm the importa nce of market size and championship prospects for the home team (but n ot the visiting team), as well as divisional status and 'star' players . The first match of the season and derby matches also increased atten dance.