The Impact of IP Branding of Contemporary Chinese Football Clubs on Urban Soft Power
Research Article
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The Impact of IP Branding of Contemporary Chinese Football Clubs on Urban Soft Power

Yang Zhang 1*
1 Chongqing University
*Corresponding author: 20220412@stu.cqu.edu.cn
Published on 20 July 2025
Journal Cover
LNEP Vol.109
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-281-2
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-282-9
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Abstract

Contemporary Chinese soccer is in a contradictory stage of low competitive performance and high social enthusiasm. Despite the poor international performance of the national soccer team, policy-driven and grassroots tournaments have provided new opportunities for soccer IP construction. Soccer club IP has also gradually become an important carrier for the enhancement of urban soft power, with the values of economic radiation, cultural identity and international dissemination. This paper focuses on the impact of soccer club IP on urban soft power and its construction path, adopting the case study method and literature research method, selecting typical cases such as Guizhou "Cun Chao", Zhejiang Greentown, Chongqing Tongliang Dragon Club, etc., and combining the theoretical literature of communication science and local practice to reveal the multiple paths and effectiveness of IP construction. Their success depends on policy support, technical empowerment and youth training. In the future, we should focus on the differentiated paths for small and medium-sized cities and the reverse cultural export in the context of globalization. The study provides city policy makers with theoretical support and practical reference for the development of modern soccer industry.

Keywords:

Soccer, Cultural symbols, Brand design, Urban culture.

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Zhang,Y. (2025). The Impact of IP Branding of Contemporary Chinese Football Clubs on Urban Soft Power. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,109,34-40.

References

[1]. Shi, Y.X. and Fang, X.S. (2025) Analysis and mirror of European football clubs' commercialization development path and key success factors. Journal of Social Sciences of Jiamusi University, 43(03), 49–53.

[2]. Xiong, A.F. and Gao, J. (2025) High-quality development paths for football industry in the context of building a sports powerhouse. Journal of Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, 47(S1), 79–81.

[3]. Li, Y.J. (2023) Implications of European membership soccer clubs for the development of Chinese professional soccer clubs. Sports World, (12), 131–133.

[4]. Zhang, Z. and Wang, Z.Y. (2025) Mold clay to make a vessel: The philosophical exploration of stadiums as collective memory landscapes. Journal of Guangzhou Sports Institute, 45(01), 13–25.

[5]. Feng, W., Gu, D.H. and Yu, L. (2024) Research on the role of city sports elements in city brand identification and construction. Sichuan Sports Science, 43(02), 28–32, 86.

[6]. He, H., Li, N.N. and Wu, H. (2024) Exploration on the cultivation path of new sports consumption scene in Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-city Economic Circle under the background of developing new quality productivity. Journal of Chengdu Normal University, 40(02), 116–124.

[7]. Wu, S. (2023) Multiple perspectives on cultural excavation of Chinese soccer sports programs: Value assessment and path exploration. In: Abstracts of the Thirteenth National Sports Science Conference–Wall Paper Communication (Sports History Division). Chengdu: Chinese Society of Sports Science, pp. 28–30.

[8]. Nie, J. and Yang, X. (2025) Chongqing's sports economy pries up new track of consumption. Chongqing Daily, 2025-03-20(004).

[9]. Zhong, P.P. and Jia, R.C. (2021) Spanish cultural characteristics from the badge of La Liga club. Literature, (3), 154–156.

[10]. Tan, J.H. and Bu, Y.F. (2025) The fundamental principles, driving mechanism and promotion strategies for high-quality development of modern rural sports events such as “Village Football Super League” and “Village Basketball Association”. Journal of Beijing Sport University, 48(03), 61–76.

[11]. Liu, Z.J., Zheng, F., Chen, X.N. et al. (2025) Research on the development focus and strategies of Chinese professional football league based on the perspective of institutional logic. China Sports Science and Technology, 61(03), 92–97.

[12]. Meng, J.C., Wang, J. and Yu, Y.Y. (2025) The realistic dilemma and optimization strategy of soccer reserve training in China under the concept of integration of sports and education in the new era. Journal of Harbin Institute of Physical Education, 43(02), 74–80.

[13]. Editorial Office. (2022) New technology shines in soccer World Cup. China Information Society, (06), 58.

[14]. Jiang, S. and Jin, Y.L. (2023) The World Cup “View” and “Play” in the era of meta-universe: An analysis of the content matrix and technological innovation of the Qatar World Cup. Film and Television Production, 29(01), 20–25.

[15]. Feng, X.H. (2024) Chinese Super League official new media communication status and strategy research. Master's thesis, Capital Sports Institute.

[16]. Lu, H.J., Tian, G., Mu, Y. et al. (2022) International football town giving value and development strategy: Taking Guizhou Duyun Football Town as an example. In: Proceedings of the Sixth China Football Culture and Campus Football Development Conference. Guizhou: Sports Culture Development Center of General Administration of Sport of China; Chinese Society of Sports Science, 174.

References

[1]. Shi, Y.X. and Fang, X.S. (2025) Analysis and mirror of European football clubs' commercialization development path and key success factors. Journal of Social Sciences of Jiamusi University, 43(03), 49–53.

[2]. Xiong, A.F. and Gao, J. (2025) High-quality development paths for football industry in the context of building a sports powerhouse. Journal of Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, 47(S1), 79–81.

[3]. Li, Y.J. (2023) Implications of European membership soccer clubs for the development of Chinese professional soccer clubs. Sports World, (12), 131–133.

[4]. Zhang, Z. and Wang, Z.Y. (2025) Mold clay to make a vessel: The philosophical exploration of stadiums as collective memory landscapes. Journal of Guangzhou Sports Institute, 45(01), 13–25.

[5]. Feng, W., Gu, D.H. and Yu, L. (2024) Research on the role of city sports elements in city brand identification and construction. Sichuan Sports Science, 43(02), 28–32, 86.

[6]. He, H., Li, N.N. and Wu, H. (2024) Exploration on the cultivation path of new sports consumption scene in Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-city Economic Circle under the background of developing new quality productivity. Journal of Chengdu Normal University, 40(02), 116–124.

[7]. Wu, S. (2023) Multiple perspectives on cultural excavation of Chinese soccer sports programs: Value assessment and path exploration. In: Abstracts of the Thirteenth National Sports Science Conference–Wall Paper Communication (Sports History Division). Chengdu: Chinese Society of Sports Science, pp. 28–30.

[8]. Nie, J. and Yang, X. (2025) Chongqing's sports economy pries up new track of consumption. Chongqing Daily, 2025-03-20(004).

[9]. Zhong, P.P. and Jia, R.C. (2021) Spanish cultural characteristics from the badge of La Liga club. Literature, (3), 154–156.

[10]. Tan, J.H. and Bu, Y.F. (2025) The fundamental principles, driving mechanism and promotion strategies for high-quality development of modern rural sports events such as “Village Football Super League” and “Village Basketball Association”. Journal of Beijing Sport University, 48(03), 61–76.

[11]. Liu, Z.J., Zheng, F., Chen, X.N. et al. (2025) Research on the development focus and strategies of Chinese professional football league based on the perspective of institutional logic. China Sports Science and Technology, 61(03), 92–97.

[12]. Meng, J.C., Wang, J. and Yu, Y.Y. (2025) The realistic dilemma and optimization strategy of soccer reserve training in China under the concept of integration of sports and education in the new era. Journal of Harbin Institute of Physical Education, 43(02), 74–80.

[13]. Editorial Office. (2022) New technology shines in soccer World Cup. China Information Society, (06), 58.

[14]. Jiang, S. and Jin, Y.L. (2023) The World Cup “View” and “Play” in the era of meta-universe: An analysis of the content matrix and technological innovation of the Qatar World Cup. Film and Television Production, 29(01), 20–25.

[15]. Feng, X.H. (2024) Chinese Super League official new media communication status and strategy research. Master's thesis, Capital Sports Institute.

[16]. Lu, H.J., Tian, G., Mu, Y. et al. (2022) International football town giving value and development strategy: Taking Guizhou Duyun Football Town as an example. In: Proceedings of the Sixth China Football Culture and Campus Football Development Conference. Guizhou: Sports Culture Development Center of General Administration of Sport of China; Chinese Society of Sports Science, 174.

Cite this article

Zhang,Y. (2025). The Impact of IP Branding of Contemporary Chinese Football Clubs on Urban Soft Power. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,109,34-40.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICEIPI 2025 Symposium: Understanding Religious Identity in Educational Contexts

ISBN: 978-1-80590-281-2(Print) / 978-1-80590-282-9(Online)
Editor: Kurt Buhring
Conference website: https://www.iceipi.org
Conference date: 20 August 2025
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.109
ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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