Spread and Reconstruction of International Football Terrace Culture in ChinaA Case Study of Chengdu's Chinese Super League Stadium

This study, taking the Chinese Super League (CSL) matches in Chengdu as a case study, employs in-depth interviews and participant observation to examine the evolution of China's football terrace culture within the global context. It analyzes the collaborative mechanisms among key stakeholders, including old and new fan associations, individual fans, football clubs and government bodies, in shaping the spectacle of the stadium. The research identifies three stages in the hybrid regeneration of Chinese and foreign terrace cultures: implantation, mutual regulation and mutual construction. During the implantation stage, a new-type of fans introduced the radical cheering philosophy and methods of Ultras culture to Chinese stands through cultural appropriation. In the mutual training stage, government and clubs intervened to regulate the overzealous behavior of new fans; while traditional fans adapted their cheering styles under the influence of Ultras culture such as embracing singing and dancing performances. In the mutual construction stage, football clubs, as event organizers, consciously fostered a harmonious and inclusive stadium atmosphere through ceremonial adjustments and enhanced order management. This approach gradually garnered recognition from both organized fan associations and casual fans, resulting in a new and distinct Chinese terrace culture.