Ankara Stadyumu – construction description

How did plans for the new Ankara Stadyumu come about?

The first plans for the construction of a large and modern football stadium in Ankara were made during Turkey's bid to host Euro 2016. The current concept was prepared in 2018, as part of another bid, this time to host Euro 2024.

Although Turkey did not become the host of Euro 2016 or Euro 2024, the new stadium in Ankara was eventually decided to be built. The stadium will be constructed in the city center, replacing the former Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadyum, which was demolished in the second half of 2018 in connection with the planned development.

How is the construction of the Ankara Stadyumu progressing?

Construction of the new facility began only four years after the demolition of the old stadium, in mid-2022. The contract was signed on June 13, 2022, and the main contractor was a consortium of Yıldızlar Grup and ASL İnşaat, selected from among seven entities invited to participate in the bidding process. The value of the contract was 4.52 billion Turkish Liras, and financing was provided by public funds.

Initially, the new stadium was expected to open in 2024. Although construction is proceeding very smoothly, the tight schedule could not be met, and the opening date was postponed until the beginning of the 2025/26 season.

What will the new Ankara Stadyumu be like?

The design of the new Ankara Stadyumu can be seen on a separate subpage

The new stadium will have a football-specific character, and its high, two-tiered stands will accommodate 45,000 spectators (it is possible that the final capacity will reach 50,000). The auditorium will be covered with an original, round (ball-like) dome, the shell of which will be largely glazed, letting in a fair amount of sunlight.

The distinctive dome will be supported by four huge arch trusses. Two of them (the ones running along the pitch) will span 285 meters and will be among the largest used in stadiums around the world.

The new, representative stadium in the center of Ankara would become something like a national stadium. The facility will most likely be one of the venues for the Euro 2032 tournament, to be held in Turkey and Italy.