The impact of a soccer team from a Romanian city on local community: a content analysis

Abstract

The study includes a content analysis of 908 articles from the online version of the local newspaper Ziarul de Iași from the period 2004–2009 when there was only one coach in charge of the local soccer team Poli Iași in Romania. The results indicate a more significant economic impact, without neglecting the social and political dimensions. As a source, the team influences the behaviour, values and feelings of members of the local community, through power, proximity, the number of those who exercise influence over the local community. As a target, the team’s performances can be influenced by the attitude and behaviour of the local community members, by the policies and strategies of the local or central public administration in the territory. Poli Iași can be a vehicle for building the identity of a local community using the same tools as other club teams around the world.