The history of modern sport has been defined by a wide range of labor struggles, from individual contract disputes to collective acts of workplace dissent, protest, and unionism. Unlike in many industries, the labor politics of sport have a mass audience. Not simply detached observers, fans have played prominent and critical roles in shaping the labor politics of sport.
This special issue of the Journal of Sport and Social Issues will consider the place of fans and fandom in the labor relations of modern sport. Submissions are invited on any related topic, including (but by no means limited to): fans’ symbolic place in media accounts of sports labor disputes, fans’ collective responses to strikes and lockouts, fans’ engagement with sports labor via social media, and the role of fantasy sports in the labor relations of the contemporary sports industry.
Interested contributors should submit a short (200-250 word) proposal and CV via email to Prof. Daniel Gilbert (School of Labor and Employment Relations, University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign): gilbertd@illinois.edu. Proposals due October 15; first drafts of selected projects will be due March 1.