Between security and festivity: The case of fan zones

Abstract

This article investigates the multiple operational and socio-cultural roles of ‘fan zones’ at contemporary sport mega-events (SMEs) from stakeholder perspectives. Fan zones, with their giant screens, are locations for public viewing events for fans without stadium tickets. They are also popular pre- and post-match destinations for football (soccer) fans with stadium tickets. Since the mid-2000s they have become central to the hosting of mega-events. Based on qualitative pre-event documentary data and stakeholder interviews in the context of Euro 2020, this paper argues that fan zones generate both solutions and new distinct challenges related to crowd control and security, while providing spectators with social experiences and an ‘event within the event’. With its empirical findings, the article bridges an important gap in literature as limited research investigates how mega-event stakeholders perceive or experience fan zones. However, the findings also have broader implications and are particularly significant in a time wherein fan zones’ organizational and security requirements have increased in accordance with their popularity and the emergence of wider security threats.