Transformation of the neighborhood football fans via the changing patterns of urbanization: The case of Piyalepasa, İstanbul

Football is the most common sport in almost all over the world. Football's ratings and its economy are increasing day by day. With the advancement of technology, football can reach more and more people every day. The fact that football is such a popular sport increases the number of watchers and fans of football. This thesis examines of the relationship between football and social dimensions of football fan from a micro-level perspective. In this study, which focuses on the fans of the neighborhood football team in Istanbul, whose dynamics are different from the big teams in our country, social transformation of neighborhood football team fans is discussed. The case of this thesis is the Piyalepasa Neighborhood in Istanbul. In this study, the change in the social dynamics of fans of the neighborhood football team were discussed in the light of urbanization and migration concepts. This thesis is based on a qualitative study which is conducting by interweaving with the fans of the Istanbul Piyalepasa football team. The dynamics of being fan are discussed in the context of the sociological changes of the neighborhood and also Istanbul. In the thesis, the concept of advocacy in the context of the transformation of football over the years and the sociology of football are examined under the title of football culture. Then, the results of the qualitative field study are discussed. With the transformations of Istanbul and Piyalepasa district in recent years, it has been observed that the long-established social ties between the neighborhood team fans have begun to weaken. The "excitement" of being a neighborhood team's fan has been overshadowed by the growing football industry and the being fans of big teams.