Diversifying the fan experience and securitising crowd management: A longitudinal analysis of fan park facilities at 15 football mega events between 2002 and 2019

Abstract

Azerbaijan has considerable energy resources and exports oil across the world. Some of the resultant wealth has been reinvested, primarily centralised in Baku and concentrated on specific projects. This has shaped ambitious nation-building projects including staging major events. Baku hosted the 2019 men’s UEFA Europa League final and four UEFA Euro 2020
matches. This article analyses these sporting events in relation to Azerbaijan’s political system, providing a lens through which Azerbaijani statecraft and authoritarian modernisation is examined. It also explores a 2004 sport-for-development project
implemented 320 kilometres from Baku. This juxtaposition and frame of reference emphasises some key issues facing Azerbaijan and contextualises the subsequent modernisation and impact of hosting events. Data are examined from interviews conducted in 2004, 2019 and 2021 comprising international aid workers, civilians, translators and event spectators. This longitudinal study investigates Azerbaijan’s political context and conflicts, sport-for-development, energy wealth, modernisation projects, sports event hosting andstatecraft.