Conceptualising and Measuring Fan Identity using Stakeholder Theory

Conceptualising and Measuring Fan Identity Using Stakeholder Theory Rui Biscaia, David P. Hedlund, Geoff Dickson and Michael Naylor ABSTRACT Research question: Building on identity...

Towards a Future Esports Research: Introduction to Esports Minitrack

Siuda, P., Behnke, M., & Hedlund, D. P. ABSTRACT Research on esports is a relatively new, yet fast-growing discipline with multiple inter- and multi-disciplinary perspectives. For HICSS-56,...

The motivations of esports players

The motivations of esports players (from the book Understanding esports: An introduction to the global phenomenon) David P. Hedlund ABSTRACT Since the early 2000s, several inquiries have focused on...

Professional sport teams and fan loyalty programs: A perceived value perspective

Professional sport teams and fan loyalty programs: A perceived value perspective Masayuki Yoshida Brian S. Gordon David P. Hedlund ABSTRACT The management of loyalty programs has become a central...

Team Identification Full Circle

THE IMPORTANCE OF COGNITION, EVALUATION AND AFFECT Michael Naylor David Hedlund Geoff Dickson ABSTRACT Fans’ psychological connection to teams has long been of interest to sport...

Performance of Future Elite Players at the NFL Scouting Combine

Performance of Future Elite Players at the NFL Scouting Combine David P. Hedlund, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Division of Sport Management College of Professional Studies St. John's...

Inclusion of electronic sport in the Olympic Games for the right (or wrong) reasons

Inclusion of electronic sport in the Olympic Games for the right (or wrong) reasons Simon M. Pack and David P. Hedlund ABSTRACT With so many popular and unique sports played around the world, one of...

The use of DISC behavioral profiling and training: An innovative pedagogical strategy to enhance learning and future career opportunities through sport management and sport coaching in higher education classrooms

Elizabeth M. MasenUniversity of the Sunshine Coast David P. Hedlund, Ph.D.St. John’s University Jacob K. Tingle, Ed.D.*Trinity University Abstract:...

Rebooting Content: Broadcasting Sport & Esports to Homes During COVID-19

Rebooting Content: Broadcasting Sport & Esports to Homes During COVID-19 Michael M. Goldman and David P. Hedlund ABSTRACT Beginning in early March 2020, sport in the U.S. entered an...

Esports Business Management

Esports Business Management David P. Hedlund, Gil Fried, and R.C. Rick Smith III SUMMARY Learn about the rapidly expanding esports industry in Esports Business Management, the first textbook to...

David P. Hedlund, Ph.D.

Sport Management, Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Coaching, Analytics and Esports Professor and Consultant


David P. Hedlund, Ph.D. is a Full Professor and the Chairperson of the Division of Sport Management at St. John’s University in New York City. Dr. Hedlund earned his Ph.D. and a certificate in Measurement and Statistics from Florida State University.  He has more than 20 years of domestic and international experience in sports, esports, coaching, business, education and analytics. His areas of sport expertise and research include management, marketing, consumer behavior, sponsorship, coaching, esports and analytics. Dr. Hedlund also is a faculty advisor for esports at St. John’s University, an advisor for the student Sport Management Association, the Co-Moderator for the Gaming and Emerging Technology co-curricular club, in addition to numerous other service roles.

Dr. Hedlund is the lead editor and author of the first-of-its-kind textbook “Esports Business Management,” he is the founding Chief Editor of the Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, and he is a member of the Esports Research Network.

Outside of the university, Dr. Hedlund has also acted as a consultant for dozens of domestic and international high school, college, and professional esports teams as well as business and entrepreneurial ventures.  He is a globally recognized speaker and has spoken at international esports events such as the World Cyber Games and the Global Esports Executive Summit. Dr. Hedlund also works with collegiate and professional sport organizations on numerous analytics projects, while also educating students about current issues and opportunities in sports analytics, esports, entrepreneurship and other opportunities.

Dr. Hedlund is also a managing partner of Hedlund-Chuang Consulting Group, LLC.