Power, space and the new stadium: the example of Arsenal Football Club

Andrew Church, Simon Penny

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In many sports, but especially professional soccer in the United Kingdom, clubs have recently relocated to new stadiums so as to meet new health and safety requirements and also develop new opportunities for income generation. The process of stadium relocation involves the emergence of new spaces that have implications for the power relations between stadium owners, managers and sport supporters. Existing studies provide a limited understanding of the changing nature of power relations in new stadiums. This paper reveals the power modalities and resources involved in the constantly changing new stadium spaces. A case study of Arsenal Football Club in London and the process of ‘Arsenalisation' in the club's new stadium reveals how material and virtual spaces are used by supporters to resist, confirm and negotiate the resources and practices of stadium managers seeking to control their activities.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)819-834
Number of pages16
JournalSport in Society
Volume16
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2013

Bibliographical note

This is an Author's Original Manuscript of an article accepted for publication in Sport in Society, copyright Taylor & Francis; Sport in Society is available online at http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/17430437.2013.790888

Keywords

  • Stadium
  • spaces
  • power
  • modalities
  • resources
  • Arsenal

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Power, space and the new stadium: the example of Arsenal Football Club'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this