Football 2.0? The (un)changing nature of football and its possible futures

Lawrence, S; Crawford, G

Abstract

Football is changing. Then again, it always has been; nothing ever stays the same. But at another, deeper level, much also stays the same. The introduction and the subsequent chapters in this book have primarily focused on the changing nature of football and set out a case for understanding digital technologies and changes in audience patterns as key drivers of this. Here, in this final chapter, we wish to take a more cautionary and reflective tone, which, while recognising the fast pace of cultural change we are witness in this new millennium, contextualises this in a consideration of the continuing evolution of football as well as its continuities. The chapter then moves on to consider two key developments in the (possible) near futures of football under the headings of ‘virtual environments’ and ‘augmenting technologies’. The first considers the possibility of fans being able to attend a ‘live’ football game via virtual reality headsets but concludes that possibly the best ‘virtual’ experience will get anytime in the near future are football-themed video games. Second, and finally, we consider how new technologies might be used to enhance or ‘augment’ the fan experience; however, again, we wonder if there is a mismatch here between what is, and might be soon, possible, and what fans really want? Might it just be that what (most) fans want most of all is simply an uninhibited sightline to the game they love?

Citation

Lawrence, S., & Crawford, G. (2018). Football 2.0? The (un)changing nature of football and its possible futures. In S. Lawrence, & G. Crawford (Eds.), Digital Football Cultures: Fandom, Identities and Resistance. London: Routledge

• Acceptance Date: Feb 20, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Aug 20, 2018
• Publication Date: Aug 20, 2018
• Deposit Date: Apr 20, 2018
• Publisher: Routledge
• Book Title: Digital Football Cultures: Fandom, Identities and Resistance
• ISBN: 9780815360209
• Publisher URL: https://www.routledge.com/Digital-Football-Cultures-Fandom-Identities-and-Resistance/Lawrence-Crawford/p/book/9780815360209