Study finds link between domestic violence and some sporting events
CALGARY — A study suggests domestic violence calls in Calgary spike around the end of the Calgary Stampede and some high-stakes football games.
Researchers with the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy delved into almost 70,000 domestic violence reports to police and the Connect abuse help line between 2011 and 2014.
“We’re interested in this because, if we become better informed, we can then design primary prevention strategies to mitigate or prevent the violence from happening in the first place,” said Lana Wells, one of the authors of the paper published Thursday.
Co-author Elena Esina said previous research around the world has also found external factors play a role in domestic violence, but no two cities are alike.
“We know that holidays, summer months, certain cultural events do have significant impact on the rates of domestic violence, but they are different for specific local contexts,” she said.
The researchers found domestic violence calls were up 15 per cent on some days in the latter half of the 10-day Stampede compared with an average day.
For Canadian Football League games, the study found domestic violence calls were 15 per cent higher when the Calgary Stampeders faced off against the rival Edmonton Eskimos and increased to 40 per cent when the Stampeders were in the Grey Cup final.
No similar connection was found when it came to National Hockey League games — even when the Calgary Flames played the Edmonton Oilers — or with Ultimate Fighting Championship events.
That suggested the level of contact and aggression in a sport isn’t much of a factor. Increased alcohol consumption contributes, but is not the sole cause, Wells said.
Families are also in close quarters and emotions run high during high-stakes games or games in which there is an intense rivalry between teams.
The Stampede features rodeo events, concerts, rides and games, but many bars hold western-themed bashes across the city.
“This isn’t about throwing the Calgary Stampede under the bus,” Wells said. “This is about a cultural event that’s very important in our community and how can we make it safer for everybody.”
Wells praised the Stampeders’ partnership with the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters.
Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel said some of the study’s findings were disconcerting — such as a spike in domestic violence calls around holidays like Valentine’s Day, Canada Day, Halloween and New Year’s Day.
League players and staff take part in domestic violence seminars and the team has public service announcements during games, Hufnagel added.
The paper also said reports of domestic violence in Calgary were 14 per cent higher than average during the 2013 flood and that there appeared to be a correlation with falling oil prices.