Welcome to my website!

My name is Nathan Merkel and I am a PhD student at the University of Illinois studying Sport Management in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism.

My research interest revolves around the psychology of sport fan behaviors, theories surrounding sport consumer behavior, and the social impact that sport has on its' consumers and society.

Example research questions:

1. What behaviors do fans exhibit after experiencing franchise relocation?

2. How does a professional or local sport organization make a positive/negative impact on their surrounding community?