Marketing urbain et sport : comment mesurer de l’image des métropoles françaises à travers leur stade et aréna ?

International audienceThis article focuses on methodology, specifically on understanding how we measure the image of a city, in order to examine the contribution made by major sports venues (stadiums and arenas) in the metropolitanisation of France’s large towns and cities. That is to say, the symbolic scope which allows a city to be a ‘metropolis.’ The main facilities in each town can be assessed according to several factors, grouped under three main headings the inclusion of sports venues in an urban project, their ability to host mega-events, and their potential for media coverage. The author presents this method first by showing the main reasons why major sports venues are perceived as part of a city’s potential reputation. He then describes each factor included in his analysis grid and the reasons for their inclusion, in order to identify, if not measure, the potential to become a metropolis