Abdi İpekçi Arena

Abdi İpekçi Arena
	Abdi İpekçi Arena's exterior (2012)
Former names	Abdi İpekçi Sports Complex; Abdi İpekçi Sports Hall
Location	10. Yıl Caddesi, Kazlıçeşme, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul
Coordinates	40°59′49″N 28°55′10″E / 40.99694°N 28.91944°E
Owner	TBF
Capacity	Basketball: 12,270
Construction
Broke ground	1979
Opened	3 June 1989
Closed	2017
Demolished	2018
Architect	Ragıp Buluç; Ziya Tanalı; Ercan Yener;
Tenants
	Anadolu Efes; Galatasaray Odeabank; Galatasaray Istanbul

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.

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: