Abdi İpekçi Arena

Abdi İpekçi Arena, formerly known as Abdi İpekçi Sports Complex, was a multi-purpose indoor arena located in the Zeytinburnu district of Istanbul, Turkey, situated just outside the ancient city walls, in Yedikule.

Abdi İpekçi Arena
Abdi İpekçi Arena's exterior (2012)
Former namesAbdi İpekçi Sports Complex
Abdi İpekçi Sports Hall
Location10. Yıl Caddesi, Kazlıçeşme, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul
Coordinates40°59′49″N 28°55′10″E
OwnerTBF
CapacityBasketball: 12,270
Construction
Broke ground1979
Opened3 June 1989 (1989-06-03)
Closed2017
Demolished2018
Architect
  • Ragıp Buluç
  • Ziya Tanalı
  • Ercan Yener
Tenants
Anadolu Efes
Galatasaray Odeabank
Galatasaray Istanbul
Demolition of the arena, February 2018

History

Designed in 1979, and opened on 3 June 1989,[1] after several years of interrupted construction, it was named after the renowned Turkish journalist Abdi İpekçi. It was the primary basketball venue in Istanbul for two decades and hosted many (mostly the international) games of Istanbul's four top basketball clubs Anandolu Efes, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Besiktas, as well as many other sports events and concerts. However, its significance declined after the opening of Sinan Erdem Dome in 2010, which surpassed Abdi İpekçi Arena as the biggest and most state of the art arena in Istanbul.

Closure

After the 2016/2017 season, the arena was closed. It got demolished in early 2018.[2] In its place, a basketball training and performance center is to be built.[3] Basketball teams Anadolu Efes and Galatasaray are now playing their games at Sinan Erdem Dome beginning with the 2017/18 season. Galatasaray also plans to move into a newly built own arena in the coming years.[4] Fenerbahçe already moved into their own Ülker Sports Arena in 2012.

Facilities

The arena had an audience seating capacity of 12,270. It hosted national and international sports events, such as basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and weightlifting, as well as concerts and congresses, among other events. The facility contained a multi-faced visual scoreboard, six online-system counters, four locker rooms, two internet rooms, a press room, two multi-purpose offices, VIP rooms, etc. Its parking lot had a capacity of 1,500 cars.

Events

The professional basketball teams of Galatasaray men's basketball team and Galatasaray women's basketball team played their Turkish League home matches since the 2009–10 season in the Abdi İpekçi Arena.

Some of the notable events, which took place in the arena are:

References
  1. "Abdi İpekçi Spor Salonu, Yerini Yepyeni ve Modern Bir Basketbol Gelişim Merkezi'ne Bırakıyor". Archived from the original on 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  2. "Abdi İpekçi yıkılıyor!". Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  3. "- "Abdi İpekçi Spor Salonu" Efsanesi, Yeni Bir Boyut Kazanıyor". 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  4. "Galatasaray building a new arena - Eurohoops". 8 February 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  5. "European League 1991-92". www.linguasport.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  6. "European Cup 1994-95". www.linguasport.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  7. "FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
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