Brian Soebbing, PhD, MS, BBA

Area of Study / Keywords

sport management sport economics sport finance sports betting gambling

About

Degrees

PhD (Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation), University of Alberta, 2011

MS (Recreation, Sport, and Tourism), University of Illinois, 2007

BBA (Management), Saint Louis University (Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business), 2005

Background

Prior to joining the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta in July 2016, Dr. Soebbing spent 1 year as a faculty member in the School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management (affiliated with the Fox School of Business) at Temple University. Prior to joining the faculty at Temple University, Soebbing spent 3.5 years as a faculty member in the School of Kinesiology at Louisiana State University. He has also taught graduate courses at the German Sport University Cologne and the University of Southern Denmark.

Research

Dr. Soebbing’s main research interest focuses on the strategic behavior of sport and recreation organizations and their constituents.  Within this research area, Dr. Soebbing focuses on the economic and financial methods/topics while examining issues related to sport facilities and events, decisions made by organizational leaders and its members, policies adopted/modified by sports and recreation organizations, and behaviors by consumers of sport and recreation. 

Sample of Current Working Papers:

•  Professional Sporting Events Increase Seasonal Influenza Mortality in US Cities (with Alexander Cardazzi, Brad Humphreys, Jane Ruseski, and Nicholas Watanabe)

•  Does crime pay? The effect of off-field behavior on player salaries in the National Football League.(with Brad Humphreys and Rob Simmons)

•  Contest incentives in European Football.(with Arne Feddersen and Brad Humphreys)

Sample of Published Papers:

•  Novelty effects and sports facilities in smaller cities: Evidence from Canadian hockey arenas (with Dan Mason and Brad Humphreys).

•  The rhetorical work of a partnership coordinator in mega-project construction (with Bill Foster and Chad Seifried).

•  Market disruption as a regime for athlete activism: An economic analysis of college football player protests (with Nicholas Watanabe and Grace Yan)

•  The impact of deviance on head coach dismissals and implications of a personal conduct policy (with Jeremy Foreman and Chad Seifried).

•  The effect of Porter's generic strategies on organisational problems of non-profit sport clubs (with Pamela Wicker, Svenja Feiler, & Christoph Breuer).

Dr. Soebbing’s secondary research interest focuses on the social and economic impact of gambling within society. Previous research published in this area examining gambling participants and impacts of gambling within the broader community. 

Sample of Published Papers:

•   Access to legal gambling and the incidence of crime: Evidence from Alberta (with Brad Humphreys).

•   Examining participation in sports betting in Germany (with Pamela Wicker).

•   Consumer behaviour in lottery: The double hurdle approach and zeros in gambling survey data (with Brad Humphreys and Yang Seung Lee). 

•  Socio-economic impact of gambling in Alberta (with Brad Humphreys, Harold Wynne, John Turvey and Yang Seung Lee). 

Dr. Soebbing has presented his research at international conferences in the areas of management, economics, sport management, gambling, and urban affairs. His research has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Sport Management, Urban Studies, Growth and Change, Sport Management Review, Deviant Behavior, International Journal of Sport Finance, Contemporary Economic Policy, Journal of Sports Economics, and Economic Letters.

He is also an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Sport Finance and the European Sport Management Quarterly.

Teaching

Dr. Soebbing has authored a number of teaching related articles and case studies.

The Starter clothing company: A profile case study of nostalgia (with Chad Seifried, Adam Pfleegor, and Khirey Walker)

A rationale and example of a grant writing course for doctoral students in Sport Management (with Khirey Walker, Jeremy Foreman, and Chad Seifried)

The new old Finisher Sports: The remaking of an apparel titan (with Khirey Walker, Adam Pfleegor, and Chad Seifried)

Dr. Soebbing has taught a number of courses at the University of Alberta:

KIN209-Research Methods in Kinesiology 

KRLS305-Financial Management in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

KRLS350-Advanced Analysis of Sport and Leisure Organizations

KSR711/KSR520- Organizational Analysis of Sport and Recreation

KSR713/KSR522-Financial Analysis & Management of Sport and Recreation Organizations

Sample of other courses prior to the University of Alberta

Economics of Sport and Recreation

Governance and Policy Development in Sport

Social Issues in Sport

Ethical and Legal Issues in Sport

Dr. Soebbing is currently accepting Masters and PhD student applications. For students who wish to contact Dr. Soebbing regarding the pursuit of a Thesis-based Masters or a Ph.D, please include in your initial email a CV along with a research statement outlining your particular research interest and potential topics.

Undergraduate students, particularly those students enrolled in the research certificate, who are interested in research opportunities in the area of sport management should contact Dr. Soebbing. Previous undergraduate student research looked at topics such as professional sports ownership and attendance at intercollegiate athletic events.

KSR 520 - Organizational Analysis of Sport and Recreation

Concepts and perspectives in organizational theory are examined in relation to sport and recreation organizations in the public, nonprofit/voluntary, and commercial sector to help students understand and analyze the complexity of managing sport and recreation organizations effectively. Credit will be granted for only one of KSR 520 or KSR 711.

KSR 711 - Organizational Analysis of Sport and Recreation

Concepts and perspectives in organizational theory are examined in relation to sport and recreation organizations in the public, nonprofit/voluntary, and commercial sector to help students understand and analyze the complexity of managing sport and recreation organizations effectively. Sections offered at an increased rate of fee assessment; refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations sections of the Calendar. Credit will be granted for only one of KSR 520 or KSR 711.

RLS 130 - Collaborative Skills and Processes for Community Recreation and Leisure

Study of the social and political processes through which groups and individuals work to mobilize resources and establish relationships to fulfill individual and community recreation/leisure needs. Basic personal communication and conflict skills for understanding, analyzing, and working through social and political processes will be examined. Note: Credit will be granted for only one of RLS 130 or 230. Prerequisite: RLS 100.

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