Ankara’s New 51,000-Capacity Stadium Nears Completion
Ankara, May 28 – The construction of a new 51,000-capacity stadium in Ankara, set to be one of Turkey’s most modern sports facilities, is in its final stages. Works on the main structure of the stadium, commissioned by the Ministry of Youth and Sports on behalf of TOKİ, are 95% complete. The stadium is expected to be ready for the start of the 2026-2027 season.
Cem Saraçlar, Project Manager for ASL Yıldızlar Joint Venture Ankara Stadium, stated that construction began in late June 2022. He noted that the overall progress rate of the construction has exceeded 90%, with most indoor activities and manufacturing largely finished.
Significant Progress on Main Structure and Steelwork
Saraçlar highlighted that 95% of the main stadium structure is complete, with intensive landscaping work currently underway. Despite occasional slowdowns due to weather conditions, progress remains on track.
“Most of the indoor activities and manufacturing are complete. Our landscaping efforts are progressing rapidly. Our goal is to complete the stadium project by the beginning of the 2026-2027 season,” Saraçlar explained. “All main components of our steel structure have been lifted to the roof and installed. We have approximately 17,000 tons of steel fabrication, a steel and roof structure that ranks among the world’s best. Currently, the final small elements are being mounted on the stadium roof, with inspections and paint touch-ups being performed by certified mountaineer-athletes.”
Saraçlar also mentioned that the membrane systems for the roof cladding have begun to be installed, emphasizing the meticulous engineering calculations involved.
Red and White Seating Installation Underway
The installation of the stadium’s red and white tribune seats has commenced. “We have started connecting the seats, and nearly 50% of them have been manufactured and are currently on-site. We will begin rapid seat installation after the holiday,” Saraçlar confirmed.
During the construction process, the daily workforce sometimes reached 1,300 people, underscoring the significant effort invested in the project. Saraçlar acknowledged that the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes on February 6, 2023, impacted the project, but work has continued as planned. “The initially planned spectator capacity of our project was increased. Our project will have a capacity of 51,000 spectators upon opening,” he added.
UEFA Requirements and Multi-Sport Complex Features
Cem Saraçlar also revealed that officials from the Turkish Football Federation and UEFA have visited the stadium. “UEFA shared some insights and demands. We will hopefully fulfill all those demands,” he stated.
The new stadium is designed as a large sports complex, intended to host not only football matches but also various other sports. “Within the structure, there are halls for training in approximately 15 different sports branches across 160,000 square meters of indoor space. Training halls for boxing, shooting, taekwondo, karate, ice hockey, table tennis, and many other branches are being prepared,” Saraçlar elaborated.
A modern athletics facility is also under construction, with halls designed to allow athletes to train even during winter months.
Opening Date and Architectural Design
Regarding the stadium’s name, Saraçlar noted that the decision would be made by the Ministry of Youth and Sports after the handover process. Discussing the stadium’s architecture, Saraçlar explained, “Our architect, Bahadır Özkul, was inspired by the patterns on a football. Furthermore, the stadium offers very high viewing comfort. There is a ‘C curve’ mentioned in relation to viewing comfort. The ability to see every corner of the field is available from every point of the stands. One of its most important features is that our roof structure, like a shell system, rests on 8 main support legs and does not touch the main structure. This will provide football fans with very clear viewing comfort from all areas of the stands.”
Saraçlar also mentioned that the specially designed press tribune has a capacity for 1,400 members of the press. When asked about the stadium’s operational start date, Cem Saraçlar responded, “All our planning is aimed at being ready for the 2026-2027 football season. We hope to bring football fans together in this stadium at the beginning of the season.”
