Ankara Stadyumu – design description

When did the first plans to build a new, representative stadium in Ankara emerge?

The first plans to build a large and modern football stadium in the Turkish capital, Ankara, emerged in connection with Turkey's bid to host Euro 2016. However, in a vote held in Geneva on May 28, 2010, Turkey's bid lost (by just one vote) to France's, and plans to build a large stadium in Ankara were shelved.

Previously, the main stadium in Ankara was the 19 Mayıs Stadyumu, located in the center of the city. The facility was built between 1934 and 1936, had an athletics track and stands with a capacity of about 20,000 spectators. The stadium hosted matches of local clubs with occasional national team fixtures. In the 21st century, however, it fell further behind modern standards, especially in view of the stadium boom in Turkey.

Possible plans to build a new, representative stadium were tied to Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadyumu, or rather to its location, as it was assumed that the new facility would be built in place of the old stadium. In 2009–2010 a modern sports and entertainment hall for more than 10,000 spectators (Ankara Spor Salonu) was built right next door.

It should be added that before the ambitious plans to build a new stadium in the center of the city came to fruition, the first modern football stadium in the capital's metropolitan area, Eryaman Stadyumu, was built in 2016–2019 in the western suburbs of Ankara, with a capacity of more than 20,000 spectators.

When was the current Ankara Stadyumu project built?

The current design of the new Ankara Stadyum was created in connection with Turkey's bid to host Euro 2024, and was designed by Bahadır Kul Architecture (BKA). The bid for Euro 2024 was ultimately lost to Germany, but nevertheless, this time the project for a new stadium in Ankara has already been decided.

The plans prepared for the tournament called for the capacity of the new stadium to be above 65,000 spectators. However, after the lost bid, it was reduced to 55,000 and later to 45,000 spectators.

How is the construction of Ankara Stadyumu progressing?

In connection with the planned investment, the old Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadyumu was demolished in the second half of 2018 to make room for the construction of a new venue.

However, construction of the new stadium began only four years later, 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.

A report on the construction of the Ankara Stadyumu can be seen on a separate subpage

What will the new Ankara Stadyumu be like?

The new stadium will have a football-specific character, with high, two-tiered stands that will accommodate 45,000 spectators. The auditorium will be covered with an unique, round (like a ball) 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 that have been used in stadiums around the world.

What will be in the surroundings of the new Ankara Stadyumu?

Wide promenades will lead to the stadium from four sides. The area around the facility will be completely reorganized, which is expected to involve the removal of several older sports facilities (a smaller stadium, swimming pool, tennis courts, etc.) that were located around the former stadium. New parking spaces and green areas will be created instead.

Where will the new Ankara Stadyumu be built?

The new stadium will be built in the center of Ankara, replacing the former Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadyumu (the pitch of the new stadium will be slightly rotated compared to its predecessor, so that it is evenly located on a north-south axis). Nearby is the new sports arena (Ankara Spor Salonu), as well as Ankara's main train station. The stadium will be accessible by public transportation, including the subway.

What role will the new stadium in Ankara play?

The new, representative stadium in the center of Ankara would become something like a national stadium, and with its establishment, Turkey's national football team would be able to visit the capital much more often than before. The facility would also attract a range of other sporting and non-sporting events. The stadium would most likely serve local football clubs, with MKE Ankaragücü the most likely host.

In October 2023, after several previous unsuccessful attempts, Turkey was finally awarded the organization of the European Championships in football (Euro 2032), to be held jointly with Italy. The new Ankara Stadyumu has a good chance of becoming one of the venues for this tournament.

In May 2024, UEFA announced that Beşiktaş Stadium would host the 2026 Europa League final and the 2027 Conference League final. However, it is possible that the Conference League final will be held not in Istanbul, but in a new stadium in Ankara.

What will be the capacity of Ankara Stadyumu?

The capacity of the new stadium has been set at 45,000 spectators, although higher figures were considered at the planning stage (55,000 or even above 65,000 as part of the bid to host Euro 2024).

However, after the capacity reduction, doubts arose as to whether the stadium would meet all ambitions and expectations for a major sports venue for a capital city of more than 5 million people. After the construction of a number of large, modern stadiums in Turkey, the new Ankara Stadyum will no longer be something extraordinary on a national scale, and will give way to many new European national stadiums, such as those in Warsaw, Budapest and Bucharest.

In November 2024, it was reported that the final capacity of the stadium might turn out to be slightly higher, at 50,000 spectators.