A 90-minute city: football fans dividing Prague

NEMEŠKAL, J. (2026): A 90-minute city: football fans dividing Prague. Journal of Maps, 22, 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2026.2671919

The general potential of big data lies in finding surprising variables in its analysis. Monitoring visitors to football matches using mobile phone location data has resulted in a unique map showing the city divided according to football club affiliation. The research works in an aggregated and anonymized way with the place of residence of active fans, i.e. those who actively attend football matches of the two largest Czech clubs, SK Slavia Prague and AC Sparta Prague. The data show strong fan ties in the vicinity of the stadiums and a relatively sharp division of football Prague into the right and left banks of the Vltava River. Surprisingly, only half of the active fans come from Prague and its immediate surroundings, confirming the nationwide reach of both clubs.