İzmir Atatürk Stadium
Multi-purpose stadium in İzmir, Turkey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 October 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]
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 Interactive map of İzmir Atatürk Stadyumu | |
Full name | İzmir Atatürk Stadyumu |
|---|---|
| Location | İzmir |
| Coordinates | 38°26′6″N 27°10′41″E |
| Owner | Ministry of Youth and Sports |
| Capacity | 70,000 63,000 58,008 54,960 51,295 (2005–present)[1] |
| Surface | Grass[1] |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
Record attendance | 68,034 (Turkey-Malta, 31 October 1976) |
Field size | 105 x 68 m [1] |
| Public transit |   Halkapınar |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 10 September 1968 |
| Built | 1968–1971 |
| Opened | 1971 |
| Renovated | 2005 |
| Architect | Harbi Hotan |
Main contractors | Kemal 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.
Izmir Atatürk Stadium hosted a concert on September 9, 1986, featuring Sandra, C.C. Catch, Bad Boys Blue, Iva Zanicchi, Ricchi e Poveri, Caroline Verdi, MFÖ, and Grup Gündoğarken, organized to raise funds for African countries struggling with hunger and drought.
American 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
| Rank | Attendance | Date | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 68,034 | 31 October 1976 | Turkey – Malta |
| 2 | 67,696 | 16 May 1981 | Karşıyaka SK – Göztepe S.K.[A] |
| 3 | 66,701 | 21 January 1973 | Galatasaray SK – Fenerbahçe SK |
| 4 | 62,825[3] | 12 October 1971 | France Amateurs – Turkey B |
| 5 | 62,200 | 30 January 1989 | Altay SK – Fenerbahçe SK |
| 6 | 61,810 | 24 August 1994 | Galatasaray SK – FC Avenir Beggen |
| 7 | 59,406 | 15 November 1987 | Altay SK – Galatasaray 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.
