Schedule 80. StuTS

Stickers of football clubs can be seen everywhere in the city. But what do they tell us about the connection between the club, the city and its fans? This talk discusses referencing schemes on such stickers under the framework of semiotic landscapes. To do so, 252 stickers were recorded at the Ruhrstadion in Bochum, Germany, home of the second division side VfL Bochum 1848. Results testify of direct referencing strategies (e.g., through the club's logo and name) as well as indirect strategies, drawing connections to the city's history of coal mining or old postal code. These schemes can be interpreted as proof of the club's deep rooting in the local culture and its relevance for identity construction of the area.