Karaman Stadyumu – stadium description

How did the new stadium in Karaman come about?

Preparations for the construction of a new stadium in Karaman began after Ertuğrul Çalışkan was elected mayor of the city in 2014, promising in his campaign to intensify efforts to develop sports infrastructure. The design of the new 15,000-seat football stadium was prepared by Alper Aksoy Architects. The facility was to be built in Kırbağı, a developing eastern suburb of Karaman.

The tender for the construction of the facility was won by Meda Yapı and Gintek İnşaat. The contract was signed on July 19, 2017 and the handover of the construction site took place on July 24, 2017. The investment was jointly implemented by the city and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The cost of construction at the end was more than one billion Turkish lira.

The work was originally scheduled to be completed in autumn 2019. However, construction dragged on considerably. In the summer of 2019, the advancement of work was estimated at 55%, and two years later at 70%. It was not until late 2022 that the laying of the pitch's turf began. The economic collapse and fall in the value of the Turkish currency and the COVID-19 pandemic forced austerity during the construction of the stadium, including the depletion of the decorative facade and roof sheathing.

When was Karaman Stadyumu opened?

The facility was finally completed in the first half of 2023. The stadium was inaugurated with the match of the 1st round of the new TFF 2nd Lig season, played on August 27, 2023 between Karaman FK and Menemen FK (0:1). The meeting was the debut of the hosts in the TFF 2. Lig (third tier of the competition), after being promoted in the previous season. Prior to the opening of the new stadium, Karaman FK played at the much more modest Kemal Kaynaş Stadyumu, located near the railway station.

What does Karaman Stadyumu look like?

The stadium has a football-specific, rectangular layout and the pitch is surrounded by single-level, covered stands capable of holding 15,000 spectators. The facility is equipped with white and red folding seats, a VIP stand for 241 people, 25 skyboxes and two separate hospitality areas. There is a press stand for 155 people and a conference room for the media. What is quite rare, the stands can be heated in winter. Parking facilities and a training pitch complex are planned around the stadium.