Freya Leonard
︎ Podcast Link
A Social Construction of Wembley Stadium
Large-Scale Event Venues as Micro-Utopian Liminal Space
Large-Scale Event Venues as Micro-Utopian Liminal Space
Events are moments; they are time-bound and are overtly and tacitly linked to a space, and the place in which they occur. They transgress, express, include, and exclude. They draw together those who don’t know each other, and they can alter the relationships of those who do. They can separate, they can unite…They can be silent, they can be boisterous, uplifting, and heart-warming… and very often, arguably, all at the same time (Lamond and Moss, 2020, p. 55).
It is only since the late 1990s that urban researchers have noted a post-industrial shift from the production of goods and services to that of experiences (Pine and Gilmore, 1998). London’s experiential economy is reflected in the increasing prominence of large-scale music and sporting events, plus the eminent architecture in which they occur. The growing popularity of communal events illustrates an “inherent need for collective involvement,” which has numerous psychosocial benefits (Melnick, 1993, pp. 47-9). Sociological studies have noted a positive correlation between the frequency of events and the mitigation of stress and loneliness in cities (Toepoel, 2013, pp. 355-72). This is reflected in findings from the UK national lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the restriction of social gatherings led to higher reports of isolation (McKenna-Plumley et al., 2021). Despite event venues attracting crowds that can appear intimidating or exclusionary, they also foster conviviality through “social bonding and camaraderie” (Ziakas and Boukas, 2014, p. 59). Stadiums thus support new practices of socio-cultural organisation, accommodating individual and collective experiences that transcend the “more mundane spaces of everyday life” (Taylor, Bennett and Woodward, 2014, pp. 2-3).
In urban research, large-scale event venues have historically been considered under an economic and positivistic gaze (Lamond and Moss, 2020, p. 56), given that live sports contribute £11.8bn to the annual UK economy (Two Circles, 2024). Consequently, venue design has catered to urban status and branding, with stadiums typically depicted as iconic, static landmarks. More recently, sociologists have critiqued this representation of event venues as a product of “a dominant cultural political economic hegemony” (Platt and Lamond, 2016, pp. 3-4), which fails to acknowledge the more “experiential, existential and ontological dimensions” of collective activity (Ziakas and Boukas, 2014, p. 57). The emerging field of event studies attempts to fill this gap, offering insight into the spectator experience from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives, including anthropology, sociology, tourism, and urban studies. Nevertheless, the cultural and social value of large-scale events justifies the need for research that seeks to reveal, and indeed celebrate, new patterns of sociality at sport stadiums in London.
This dissertation explores the ways in which stadiums are spatially transformed during events, at both a physical and social level. It posits that the architectural design of Wembley Stadium creates a liminal space, which facilitates temporary moments of micro-utopian community through rituals, symbols and communitas. By liminal, I refer to Victor Turner’s definition of a threshold region in which people undergo personal transformation, feeling comfortable to suspend normal social boundaries (1974). The inquiry adopts an ethnographic, practice-based approach, in an attempt to answer three research questions: how is Wembley Stadium spatially transformed during events, at both a physical and social level?, how does Wembley Stadium facilitate the social construction of temporary micro-utopian community?, and how can mapping be used as a visual tool to explore hidden patterns of sociality at large-scale sporting events? Although the findings can be applied to broader contexts, Wembley Stadium has been selected as a case study, due to its international reputation. Empirical field research and non-directive interviews were carried out on-site to acquire a baseline understanding of the event experience. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were further conducted off-site with five event attendees of different ages, to better understand the spectator experience and explore patterns of sociality across events. Interviews were conducted in group format, to engender collaboration and community – key themes of the research. Experimental mapping allowed for further analysis of Wembley Stadium’s spatial qualities.
Despite the significant role sociality plays in well-being and community development (Poortinga, 2006), there is limited knowledge on how relationships are strengthened by large-scale events, or connected to physical space. A 2020 publication edited by sociological researchers Ian Lamond and Jonathan Moss begins to explore the relationship between collective involvement and space, calling for “a more unified, multi-disciplinary, and subjectivist approach to the field of event studies” (p. 5), which seeks “to understand the complexities of the world in which the sports spectator exists” (Garlick and Ali). This dissertation responds to this research, moving beyond the broader impacts of event management to reveal unseen spatial practices at urban event venues and offer an in-depth inquiry into the liminal dimension of the contemporary city.
It is only since the late 1990s that urban researchers have noted a post-industrial shift from the production of goods and services to that of experiences (Pine and Gilmore, 1998). London’s experiential economy is reflected in the increasing prominence of large-scale music and sporting events, plus the eminent architecture in which they occur. The growing popularity of communal events illustrates an “inherent need for collective involvement,” which has numerous psychosocial benefits (Melnick, 1993, pp. 47-9). Sociological studies have noted a positive correlation between the frequency of events and the mitigation of stress and loneliness in cities (Toepoel, 2013, pp. 355-72). This is reflected in findings from the UK national lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the restriction of social gatherings led to higher reports of isolation (McKenna-Plumley et al., 2021). Despite event venues attracting crowds that can appear intimidating or exclusionary, they also foster conviviality through “social bonding and camaraderie” (Ziakas and Boukas, 2014, p. 59). Stadiums thus support new practices of socio-cultural organisation, accommodating individual and collective experiences that transcend the “more mundane spaces of everyday life” (Taylor, Bennett and Woodward, 2014, pp. 2-3).
In urban research, large-scale event venues have historically been considered under an economic and positivistic gaze (Lamond and Moss, 2020, p. 56), given that live sports contribute £11.8bn to the annual UK economy (Two Circles, 2024). Consequently, venue design has catered to urban status and branding, with stadiums typically depicted as iconic, static landmarks. More recently, sociologists have critiqued this representation of event venues as a product of “a dominant cultural political economic hegemony” (Platt and Lamond, 2016, pp. 3-4), which fails to acknowledge the more “experiential, existential and ontological dimensions” of collective activity (Ziakas and Boukas, 2014, p. 57). The emerging field of event studies attempts to fill this gap, offering insight into the spectator experience from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives, including anthropology, sociology, tourism, and urban studies. Nevertheless, the cultural and social value of large-scale events justifies the need for research that seeks to reveal, and indeed celebrate, new patterns of sociality at sport stadiums in London.
This dissertation explores the ways in which stadiums are spatially transformed during events, at both a physical and social level. It posits that the architectural design of Wembley Stadium creates a liminal space, which facilitates temporary moments of micro-utopian community through rituals, symbols and communitas. By liminal, I refer to Victor Turner’s definition of a threshold region in which people undergo personal transformation, feeling comfortable to suspend normal social boundaries (1974). The inquiry adopts an ethnographic, practice-based approach, in an attempt to answer three research questions: how is Wembley Stadium spatially transformed during events, at both a physical and social level?, how does Wembley Stadium facilitate the social construction of temporary micro-utopian community?, and how can mapping be used as a visual tool to explore hidden patterns of sociality at large-scale sporting events? Although the findings can be applied to broader contexts, Wembley Stadium has been selected as a case study, due to its international reputation. Empirical field research and non-directive interviews were carried out on-site to acquire a baseline understanding of the event experience. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were further conducted off-site with five event attendees of different ages, to better understand the spectator experience and explore patterns of sociality across events. Interviews were conducted in group format, to engender collaboration and community – key themes of the research. Experimental mapping allowed for further analysis of Wembley Stadium’s spatial qualities.
Despite the significant role sociality plays in well-being and community development (Poortinga, 2006), there is limited knowledge on how relationships are strengthened by large-scale events, or connected to physical space. A 2020 publication edited by sociological researchers Ian Lamond and Jonathan Moss begins to explore the relationship between collective involvement and space, calling for “a more unified, multi-disciplinary, and subjectivist approach to the field of event studies” (p. 5), which seeks “to understand the complexities of the world in which the sports spectator exists” (Garlick and Ali). This dissertation responds to this research, moving beyond the broader impacts of event management to reveal unseen spatial practices at urban event venues and offer an in-depth inquiry into the liminal dimension of the contemporary city.