More Than a Game – The Football Experience at FC Haka’s Home Ground

What makes a football match more than just a game? In my bachelor’s thesis, I explored FC Haka’s home matches through the lens of the experience economy, searching for an answer to what makes a match event an experience. The study revealed an intriguing perspective on how sport, emotions, and community intertwine to create experiences that leave a lasting impact.

A match event is not just 90 minutes of play. It begins well before the opening whistle and continues long after the final whistle. The atmosphere, sense of community, and small details, such as chanting songs and sitting in the familiar seats in the stands, form a whole that stays in memory and brings people together from one match to the next.

In my research, I wanted to understand how these experiences are built and why they are so meaningful to people.

I applied the framework of the experience economy, which examines experiences through five dimensions: entertainment, education, escapism, esthetics, and personal transformation. At match events, these dimensions blend together. The atmosphere, chants, and shared emotions carry spectators along. Ultimately, victory is not what matters most; often, what is more meaningful is the atmosphere on the field and in the stands. For many fans, the most significant feeling is being part of something bigger and sharing that experience with others.

There is something unique about Finnish football culture. Seasons are decided in autumn rain, and spectators huddle wrapped in winter coats in the stands. Yet the passion never fades. It may even grow stronger. The local and resilient supporter culture offers moments that break away from everyday life and bring people together. By studying these phenomena, we can gain a deeper understanding of the strong role that community, shared experience, and living in the moment play in Finnish football culture.