The impact of game day on crime on a university police department: application of the civilizing process to sport-related law enforcement

ABSTRACT

Sport has been associated with antisocial behavior and increases in crime on game days in and around sports venues. College sport in the United States is especially linked with an increase in alcohol-related behavior. As part of the civilizing process, Elias and Dunning posit that sport has become a space in which individuals engage in the Quest for Excitement, where behavior normally considered antisocial is accepted. The purpose of this study was to consider whether university sport events, which are often associated with ritualistic behavior and alcohol consumption, impact law enforcement activity on game day near university-owned stadiums. The results indicate that citations for alcohol were strongly impacted by in-state rivalry and conference games, and also influenced by increased temperature and game start time. Traffic offenses were associated with conference and in-state rivalry games. There were no significant predictors of battery citations. Analyses support the suggestion that the college sporting events analyzed impact alcohol-related misconduct and traffic crime. Conclusions suggest extension of the Quest for Excitement to include alcohol consumption behavior by fans.

KEYWORDS:

• Quest for Excitement
• stadiums
• alcohol
• crime
• college sports

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.