When considering sports spectators there are 2 ends of the spectrum …show more content…
Fans often have a primary interest in the celebrity of a team or player or club identity. Fans can be financially invested in the club similar to a Supporter, but usually for differing reasons. Fans can take part in cheer squads and preach their alliance to the club, but are usually unidirectional in their affections.
Lastly, a cool consumer spectator was given the title of ‘Flaneur’. Flaneurs were considered to be the result of mass media allowing for the following or consumption of sports worldwide of any scale and were often appealed to by the novelty, vividness or aesthetic sensations and experiences of sports in general. Flaneurs as spectators have the least amount of solidarity to a particular club of all the 4 catergorized.
Though it is interesting to sociologically categorize people by considering factors and variables that impact them and Giulianotti has a reasonably comprehensive synopsis of the 4 evolving spectator types, one thing is certain, spectators are integral to sports on many levels and the study of such can allow for clubs and sports in general to find better ways to target and appeal to each of the aforementioned subgroups in a holistic sense for not only their fulfilment, but the club or sport’s financial and supportive prosperity in the