Abstract

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the relationship marketing between football club organizations, players, and the fans club community. Research design, data, and methodology: An ethnographic approach was used to observe for eight months in the community, interviews, and documents analysis in Bonek Mania community fans club and Persebaya, a football club management in Surabaya, Indonesia. Results: The results show that the management of the football club has maintained the football high-end brand image in the national league. Stakeholders have endeavored to build the values and shared meaning with the public and cohesively with Bonek Mania. The struggles and achievements are intended to maintain the local collective memory of Surabaya's patriotism as the "city of heroes." Sustainable relationships were built by professional football club managers, players, and the fans club to foster the spirit, economic resources, and sustainable development. Conclusions: This research implies that it can provide direction for the management of football clubs by paying attention to relationship marketing, developing unique local values to build the customers' loyalty. Further implications were discussed.