Place Identity

This paper delves into the clash between global corporate branding and local identity through the lens of football stadium naming rights in Greater Manchester. It explores the scalar tensions that arise when international corporations rebrand the names of local football stadiums, impacting deeply rooted fan communities. The research draws on fan perspectives and interviews with club executives to understand how football clubs attempt to manage these tensions, often by embedding corporate names into the community or commemorating the club's local history. Ultimately, the study contributes to critical toponymy by theorising the scales of urban space and revealing how neoliberal agendas control urban environments through these naming practices.

This research paper explores the impact of litter on people's perceptions of crime and incivilities. It uses an experiment involving participants watching films with varying levels of litter and then assessing their anticipation of social and physical disorder, as well as their views on crime rates. The study demonstrates a causal link between exposure to litter and heightened expectations of incivilities and a belief that crime is worsening. Interestingly, while women perceive crime as more prevalent overall, there was no interaction between gender and litter on the anticipation of incivilities. The paper concludes that addressing litter should be a priority for authorities and businesses, as it can lead to a 'quick win' in improving perceptions of safety and potentially reducing crime rates. The research also sheds light on the importance of actual, rather than just perceived, incivilities and the potential influence of branding on litter recall.

This chapter focuses on the impact of the stadium relocation from Maine Road to the City of Manchester Stadium (COMS). The authors, Tim Edensor and Steve Millington, argue the everyday spaces and rituals surrounding the stadium are a neglected aspect of fan culture. By examining fans' memories and experiences of Maine Road, the chapter demonstrates how "going to the match" was deeply embedded in localised, place-based sites, performances and routines, highlighting the feelings of loss and alienation resulting from the move to a more modern, less characterful stadium. The study also explores how match day routines, including visits to pubs and restaurants, the walk to the ground and the conjoined anticipation of fellow supporters become part of the situated practices of fans. practices, it would aid with the revitalisation of town centres.

This article examines Manchester City Football Club's "This is Our City" branding campaign, which aimed to solidify the loyalty of local supporters by contrasting City with its rival, Manchester United, portrayed as a global, corporate entity. The authors explore how the campaign leverages myths surrounding locality, authenticity, and working-class identity to position City as the "real" Manchester team. By analysing the campaign's strategies, the article investigates the complex interplay between branding, place, and identity in contemporary football culture. Ultimately, it argues that the campaign's success hinges on its ability to tap into pre-existing cultural narratives and the historical, cultural, and economic embeddedness of football fandom.