Linking between media, cities and soccer teams and fans: places and admirers in action

Abstract

The article analyzes the links between media, cities and their teams and fans, which have been drastically changed with the advent of modern communication and the exhibition of games on TV since the 1960's. Before that, the links between fans and their cities were stronger; the network of neighborhood solidarities, social class, work place groups etc. (soccer clubs), producing territorialities and appropriating symbolic elements (such as stadiums and social headquarters, because they require collective efforts). Meanwhile, the movement-communication binomial has created new links between soccer teams, urban centers and the media, articulating (via transports or TV) far spaces in a shorter time. Thus, municipal/regional confrontations were emptied due to interstate/international strikes and marketing reasons. The era of difficulties for the "small" clubs (generally of the interior) and for the solidarities and social groups of the past was opened, since the relationship between the supporters and their place of living was mediated by third parties. When a fan opts for a club, he either opts for a city ("his" or another), a market that will benefit, a circulation that will encourage, etc. In conceptual terms, we use the notion of territorial identities and flirtations with the Frankfurters authors.