For its fans and the city of Magdeburg, 1. FC Magdeburg is more than just a soccer club - it is a social meeting place, a source of identity for many fans and has been deeply rooted in the city's society for decades. But what values characterize the club? What makes the FCM so special? And how can the club sharpen its identity for the future?
In order to get to the bottom of these questions, FCM 1 has initiated the development of a club mission statement. The aim is to identify the club's cultural and emotional DNA and create a common set of values for fans, members and partners. The club is drawing on scientific expertise to do this: as part of a teaching research project at the University of Magdeburg, students on the Bachelor's and Master's degree courses in Social Sciences and the Project Management continuing education course are supporting the process with a scientific analysis.
A place of community
Under the direction of sociologist Prof. Dr. Heike Ohlbrecht and business educator Prof. Dr. Michael Dick, the students conducted interviews with club members, fans and officials and analyzed both historical and current documents. Their aim is to gain scientifically sound insights into the club's special culture - insights that the FCM is incorporating into the development of its mission statement. The research focuses primarily on the stadium as a social space. This is where people from a wide range of backgrounds, opinions, lifestyles and perspectives come together to actively support their club. For the students, this meant attending home matches in the stadium, interviewing fans and finding out what real and concrete significance and value this place in the east of the state capital has for people.
For the project, the students went to FCM matches with Prof. Heike Ohlbrecht (left) and research assistant Josephine Jellen (right). (Photo: private)
“This collaboration between two strong Magdeburg institutions - 1. FC Magdeburg and the university - is a great example of knowledge transfer between science and practice. The students' findings help to make the club's identity tangible,” adds Prof. Heike Ohlbrecht.
In the coming weeks, 1. FC Magdeburg will evaluate the scientific findings and integrate them into the development process of the mission statement. The aim is to actively incorporate the research findings into the club's work and develop the mission statement on this basis. “A club as rich in tradition as FCM has a strong emotional significance for Magdeburg. This joint project with the university shows how science and sport can work together to create something sustainable for the city,” said President Dr. Jörg Biastoch. The project also helps to find out how FCM is heading into the future with a clear vision - deeply rooted in the city and region, but with a clear focus on the sustainable development of the club.