Beyond the Stadium: How Video Games and VR Are Transforming Football Fandom
This GAMEHEARTS research factsheet explores how video games, virtual reality (VR), and other digital technologies are shaping football fandom. Drawing on research conducted in collaboration with Manchester City Football Club (City Football Group), including surveys and focus groups with supporters, it examines how gaming and immersive technologies can strengthen fan engagement, connect international audiences with clubs, and create new opportunities for participation. It also considers the potential benefits and challenges of digital fan experiences, including virtual merchandise, accessibility, and concerns around microtransactions.
Authors
- Neta Yodovich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3764-7284)
- Garry Crawford (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7499-3864)
- Gaynor Bagnall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9870-9290)
- Charlotte Gislam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9519-7066)
- Victoria Gosling (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7404-1110)
Institutions
- University of Salford (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Published
- 2026-11-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24007493
- Primary Topic
- Sports, Gender, and Society
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00