Diversifying the fan experience and securitising crowd management: a longitudinal analysis of fan park facilities at 15 football mega events between 2002 and 2019

Abstract

Rationale: This article explores the development, use and impact of fan parks in host cities of men's football mega events, constructed as temporary commercial sites where fans congregate to watch matches on large screens and partake in other forms of entertainment.Approach: This study draws on ethnographic, observational, interview and focus group data, exploring perspectives of fans, volunteers, organisers, journalists, police and security personnel, totalling 212 respondents at five FIFA World Cup finals and ten other confederation tournaments. Findings: This paper reveals that fans have increasingly engaged with such provision where available, relative to the degree of cultural resonance, accessibility, affordability, security and the suitability of facilities. However, these fan parks remain conspicuously absent in confederation events beyond Europe. Practical implications: The research shows that fan parks can help diversify the fan experience, allowing users to interact with supporters from across the world in defined spaces. They also contribute to crowd management, enabling authorities to contain fans, confine their movement, monitor alcohol consumption and control behaviour.Research contribution: This longitudinal study examines the emergence and development of fan parks at 15 events in five continents, analysing their impact on the fan experience and the securitisation of crowd management.

From sport-for-development to sports mega-events: conflict, authoritarian modernisation and statecraft in Azerbaijan

“…The staging, investment, participation and consumption of sports mega-events (SMEs) have become increasingly significant components of the economic, political and cultural landscape of countries across the world (Rookwood 2021). The specific status of SMEs is often determined by their prominent scale, dramatic character, periodicity and widespread importance (Roche 2003).…”

“…For SME host nations, key objectives typically include staging safe, profitable, memorable and innovative events with sustainable outcomes and legacies which promote sport participation and performance, facilitating modernisation, trade, tourism and revenue growth (Rookwood 2021). However, as with the example of Turkmenistan examined by Horák (2020), Azerbaijan is a resource-rich, authoritarian state that focuses on nation-building, identity formation and other concerns of statecraft in this context.…”

Crowd Management, Risk Assessment Strategies and Sports Tourism Events in Nairobi County, Kenya

“…Sport tourism events have grown in popularity, which has attracted larger and more diverse crowds, making crowd control and safety a crucial and vital aspect of any event's planning (Rookwood, 2021). The management of the crowd at a sporting event represents the area as a preferred venue for events with a successful track record.…”

“…Sports events are notoriously highintensity but high-risk crowd events; the presence of team partisanship and likely alcohol use can cause problems. To ensure the successful functioning of your event and the protection of attendees, you must have on-site, highly visible security personnel who are skilled in crowd and confrontation control (Rookwood, 2021). The connection between sports and tourism is not a recent phenomenon; nonetheless, academics have recently begun to recognize the rise of athletic events as one of the most important aspects of event tourism as well as one of the most comprehensive aspects of sporting tourism (Jeong, Yu & Kim, 2020).…”