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Cited by 29Sports, Gender, and SocietyPhysical Education and Sports StudiesSport and Mega-Event Impacts

Beers and blurred boundaries: The spatial and gendered organisation of pre-match venues for English football fans

Open access
Richards, Jessica, Parry, Keith D.·2020·International Review for the Sociology of Sport
DOI 10.1177/1012690219835487
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Abstract

Academic research into sports fans has grown in recent years with studies examining a variety of aspects associated with fandom. However, recent changes in the professionalisation and commercialisation of sport have resulted in the creation of new spaces for fan experiences. In this article, we examine one of these created spaces, the fan zone. Through a case study on matchgoing fans from Everton Football Club we explore how this new space sits alongside traditional pre-match gathering places such as the ‘pub’ and examine the gendered organisation of these spaces. Drawing on Bale’s concept of boundaries within sports fan communities we show that traditional venues for pre-match activities enhance, maintain and legitimise masculine boundaries within sports fandom. We argue that fan zones provide an alternative match day atmosphere and experience that is centred on a family-friendly or at least family-inclusive culture.

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Research works printed but not linked: 13

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Authors
Richards, J., & Parry, K. D.
Affiliations
  • Western Sydney University (AU)
  • University of Winchester (GB)
Corresponding author
Richards, Jessica
ORCID
Venue
International Review for the Sociology of Sport
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2019-03-28
Volume
55
Issue
6
Pages
647-663
ISSN
  • 1012-6902 (ISSN-L)
  • 1461-7218
DOI
10.1177/1012690219835487
OpenAlex
W2926478087
Semantic Scholar
aeb65c0807ecae7e01f81f2548fc1afcf9715466
Cited by
29
References
74
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1
FWCI
5.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • International Review for the Sociology of Sport (publishedVersion)
  • Bournemouth University Research Online (Bournemouth University) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sports, Gender, and Society
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Physical Education and Sports Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Sport and Mega-Event Impacts
Keywords
sports fans, fan zones, football fandom, public houses, commercialization of sport, professionalization of sport, fan experience

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