Dr Hong is an Assistant Professor at the College of Business Administration at the American University in the Emirates. He holds a PhD with a specialization in sports management – specifically sports economics and finance – from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Sport Management from the University of Louisville, U.S.A.

Dr Hong’s research is focused in three areas: i) attendance demand in sport; ii) innovation adoption and diffusion in professional sports; and iii) stadium financing. His work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, including European Sport Management Quarterly, the International Journal of Sport Finance, the International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, and the Journal of Applied Sport Management. Dr Hong also holds practical experience as part of a professional sports team, having been employed as Marketing Director for the Hyundai Unicorns professional baseball club in Korea, and participated in every aspect of the club’s marketing, sponsorship, promotion, events, sales, and advertising.
Prior to joining the American University in the Emirates in 2022, Dr Hong was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health at Hong Kong Baptist University. He taught a variety of sport management courses, including Management Skills and Communication (focusing on strategic management), Management of Human Resources, Financial Management, Research Methods, and Golf and Financial and Human Resources Management in Leisure Services.