Virtual communities can exist around any interest group and sport is no different. One of the key aspects of large sporting cultures is that much of the participation is through the support of a professional team rather than playing the game itself. A player may participate in a local league but only know the members of his or her team. When following a professional team a supporter is united with a vast number of people who share the common interest of seeing their team succeed but still these people may be strangers. The formation of online communities surrounding sporting teams have allowed members to break down the barrier of unfamiliarity between fellow supporters by openly discuss topics related to their team on the web.
Almost all professional sporting teams have a web site. While these sites may primarily act as a marketing tool, through the enthusiasm of fans these websites have become a one stop destination for everything a person could need to know about the team and more. The web site of the Brisbane Lions AFL club is fairly minimalist. It provides the necessary sales information for the club such at ticket prices, game dates and merchandise information. For the fans there is little more with just player profiles, current table standings and the latest ALF news. Compare this to the English soccer club Chelsea’s web page. There is an incredible depth of involvement with much more than the standard merchandise, ticket sales and game information. Users can view match pictures, find travel routes to and from home and away venues and learn about the development of younger players. There are also discussion forums, competitions and quizzes. People who identify themselves with the Chelsea football club can do a great deal on the web site and this increased investment strengthens the bonds between members and the club.
For the fans that want to become more involved in their team than just reviewing the latest results there is a number of fantasy sporting leagues available on the net. In these leagues the user takes control of a team and manages them through the season; making trades, setting training sessions and defining strategies. On such web page is for the English Premier League. These sites allow users who share a passion for the sport to discuss the latest news and also compete against one another with their favourite teams. As a common theme for online communities, this site tries to enable the member to immerse themselves in their area of interest but also to encourage communication as much as possible amongst members.
