ABSTRACT
Most contemporary sports began as little more than folk games with no, or at least very loosely defined, playing areas and boundaries. Sports such as association football and hockey have their origins in the folk sports played in Europe during the Middle Ages, where the boundaries to playing areas were often without any limitations and matches were frequently played across large areas of land. Since the codification of modern sports, most notably in the mid- to late nineteenth century, spatial parameters such as the size and shape of playing areas have become increasingly significant. The changing nature, demographics and behaviour of 'live' supporters has attracted considerable debate within academic literature, and the study of the geography and development of sport stadiums themselves is also a rapidly growing field. Traditionally, formalized sport teams have tended to have a significant link to a specific place and are representative of a particular location.
