Fandom, place protection, and urban planning: two sporting case studies

This study explores the intersections between the study of sport and the study of the city through the extension of sport history to themes traditionally explored by geography—notably urban planning scholars. Its focus is two case studies related to urban planning decisions in early millennial Sydney, Australia. Through an examination of public submissions in response to building development applications made by two community-owned professional sports organizations competing in the National Rugby League, the study explores how modern sporting fandom complicates ideas about place and locality through forms of delocalization and glocalization. The authors conclude that when exploring the phenomenon of place protection, the built environment is not necessarily the primary factor informing a sense of place attachment in an urban environment.