Archive | 2019
The City of Sport: London’s Stadiums as Visitor Attractions
Abstract
Sport tourism has grown in academic prominence in recent years, with recognition that stadiums and other sporting locations can both add to the tourism offering and to the city image. This chapter focuses on the major sporting venues in London and examines their role as an attraction for tourists. It analyses the influence of fandom and the importance of hallowed sporting spaces as motivators to encourage visitation. Through an evaluation of more than 7,000 Trip Advisor reviews, it provides a critical assessment of the tourist’s experience of its stadiums as tourist attractions. It applies these insights to offer an appraisal the use of sport as a means of extending the tourism offering outside of central London.