Sport and architecture are two of the social practices in contemporary life with the broadest impact on the world around us. The role architecture plays in shaping buildings and societies has occupied historians, critics, and urban theorists for centuries. Likewise the cultural, economic, and political importance of sport is the subject of sustained and substantial inquiry. When sport and architecture converge, as in the recent London Olympics or current preparations in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup, then the impact of these two forms of social activity is redoubled.

In spite of the myriad examples of the rich and complex relationship between sport and architecture, there is a relative paucity of scholarly work exploring that relationship. This volume seeks to begin filling that gap in the scholarly literature. It explores the history of sports architecture and examines the types of buildings and events that create sites where sport and architecture converge in particularly telling ways. By considering the importance of architectural form alongside key themes such as urban redevelopment, nationalism, social activism, identity, and global capitalism, this book represents a landmark study for anybody interested in the social and cultural significance of architecture or sport.

Sport and architecture are two elements of contemporary life that have a broad and profound impact on the world around us. The role architecture plays in shaping buildings and societies has occupied historians for centuries. Likewise, the cultural, economic, and political importance of sport is the subject of sustained academic inquiry. When sport and architecture converge, as in the 2012 London Olympics or the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, then the impact of these two forms of social activity is redoubled. This book presents a new and dynamic study of the complex relationship between sport and architecture. It explores the history of sport architecture and examines the buildings and events that create sites where sport and architecture converge in particularly telling ways. Its chapters discuss the following topics: sport architecture and urban redevelopment sport architecture and technology sport architecture and nationalism sport architecture as social activism sport architecture and global capitalism. By considering the importance of architectural form alongside these key themes, this book represents a landmark study for anybody interested in the social and cultural significance of architecture or sport.