İzmir Atatürk Stadium

İzmir Atatürk Stadium (Turkish: İzmir Atatürk Stadyumu) is a multi-purpose stadium in İzmir, Turkey.[1] It was named after the Turkish statesman Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. It is currently used mostly for football matches and occasionally for track and field events. The stadium holds 51,295 people.[1] It was opened in 1971, and most recently refurbished in 2005. İzmir football teams Altay S.K. and Karşıyaka S.K. occasionally use the stadium for high attendance matches. İzmir Atatürk Stadium's running track has ten lanes.[2]

İzmir Atatürk Stadyumu
Map
Full nameİzmir Atatürk Stadyumu
Locationİzmir
Coordinates38°26′6″N 27°10′41″E / 38.43500°N 27.17806°E / 38.43500; 27.17806
Public transitİzmir Metro M1 (İzmir Metro) Halkapınar
OwnerMinistry of Youth and Sports
Capacity70,000
63,000
58,008
54,960
51,295 (2005–present)[1]
Record attendance68,034 (Turkey-Malta, 31 October 1976)
Field size105 x 68 m [1]
SurfaceGrass[1]
ScoreboardYes
Construction
Broke ground10 September 1968
Built1968–1971
Opened1971
Renovated2005
ArchitectHarbi Hotan
Main contractorsKemal Uzan
Tenants
Altay S.K., Karşıyaka S.K.

The stadium hosted the 1971 Mediterranean Games, the Islamic Games in 1980 and the 2005 Summer Universiade. The stadium also hosted the Fortis Turkey Cup Final in 2009 in which Beşiktaş beat Fenerbahçe 4-2 to win the cup for the 8th time.

Singer Michael Jackson planned to perform at the stadium on October 7, 1992 on his Dangerous World Tour, but this show was cancelled due to illness.

Records

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Attendance Records
Rank Attendance Date Game
1 68,034 31 October 1976 TurkeyMalta
2 67,696 16 May 1981 Karşıyaka SKGöztepe S.K.[A]
3 66,701 21 January 1973 Galatasaray SKFenerbahçe SK
4 62,825[3] 12 October 1971 France AmateursTurkey B
5 62,200 30 January 1989 Altay SKFenerbahçe SK
6 61,810 24 August 1994 Galatasaray SKFC Avenir Beggen
7 59,406 15 November 1987 Altay SKGalatasaray SK

A. ^ The official attendance was reported as 67,696, but the actual figure is believed to be anywhere between 80,000 and 85,000.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "İzmir Atatürk Stadium." Turkish Football Federation. 2009. (in Turkish)
  2. ^ İzmir Atatürk Stadı'na büyük makyaj!
  3. ^ Cumhuriyet Newspaper, 14.10.1971, p. 8
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Events and tenants
Preceded by Host of the 1971 Mediterranean Games
İzmir Atatürk Stadium

1971
Succeeded by
Preceded by
-
Islamic Games
Opening and Closing Ceremonies

1980
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by Summer Universiade
Opening and Closing Ceremonies

2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by Host of the Turkish Cup Final
İzmir Atatürk Stadium

2006 & 2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by Host of the Turkish Cup Final
İzmir Atatürk Stadium

2009
Succeeded by