Presentation at Internet Research IR14, Denver. October 2013. Katrin Weller and Axel Bruns https://www.conftool.com/aoir-ir14/index.php?page=browseSessions&form_session=35

1. Katrin Weller
@kwelle
katrin.weller@gesis.org
Axel Bruns
@snurb_dot_info
a.bruns@qut.edu.au
FRIENDS OR FOLLOWERS
The Relations between German Soccer Clubs
and Their Fans on Twitter
#IR14
Internet Research 14, October 2013, Denver CO.

2. Twitter and sports
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3. Job offer: https://twitter.com/jobs/positions?jvi=oCLoWfwr,Job
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4. 1.Fußball Bundesliga
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5. Some facts
•
•
•
•
18 teams per season
50 years history
€1.6 billion in 2009/10
largest average attendance
in European soccer
• Recent champions: FCB, BVB
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6. Twitter steps in
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7. https://blog.twitter.com/de/2012/die-fu%C3%9Fball-saison-20122013-auf-twitter

8. Source: twitter.com an 2. Februar 2012 /
See also: http://blog.de.twitter.com/2012/02/twitter-und-fuball.html
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9. 2011/12 Season: Account chaos
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10. Heavy-Handed Tactics
http://www.nettooor.be/
account-s04-suspendedfail-schalke/

11. 2012/13 Season:
Consolidation
new account

12. Fans as Followers
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13. Account Follower Growth

14. Account Follower Growth

15. Membership numbers from www.bundesliga.de,
collected Oct. 2013. Follower numbers July 2013
Followers / Fans
Strong correlation
Pearson: 0.84
Spearman: 0.91
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16. Global Fanbase

17. Local Following

18. (Inter)action
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19. 2012/13
Season Ends
Season Begins

20. 2011-13
2011/12 Season
2012/13 Season

21. 2011-13
2011/12 Season
2012/13 Season

22. 2012/13
Champions League Final: FC Bayern – Borussia Dortmund
Season Ends
Season Begins

23. Season Ends
Season Begins

24. Growth in @mentions

25. Thank You!
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26. JOIN US!
Roundtable and
Book Launch:
Twitter and
Society and
Beyond
26 Oct. 2013,
13:30-15:00,
Confluence B
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