Final answer:
Sport consumers develop emotional attachments to places where sporting events occur, a concept studied in geography called topophilia. This connection can affect local economies, as spending may be reallocated to sports, illustrating the geography of sports' role in shaping community and urban identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sport consumers developing perceptions of the place in which an event occurs ties profoundly into geography. This process, often termed as topophilia, is about the love and emotional attachment people feel towards a specific locale. Geographic considerations influence not only where sports are played but also how they become intertwined with local culture and economies. In the context of professional sports, Siegfried and Zimbalist have argued that a city's entertainment spending may get reallocated to local sports events, potentially impacting other entertainment sectors and thus, the local economy. This facet underscores the intimate relationship between the presence of sporting events and a city's economic landscape.
Geographers study sports not just as physical activities, but as phenomena that can define communities and cities. People identify with sports teams, adopting them as symbols of their city and reflecting their pride and collective identity through support and fandom, epitomized by the sea of spectators in stadiums offering encouragement and generating enthusiasm. A city's sports team can become a central part of what gives a city its 'personality', and in this way, sports contribute significantly to the fabric of the urban identity and the geography of sports.