Ali Sami Yen Stadium

Ali Sami Yen Stadı
Hell[1]
Full name	Ali Sami Yen Stadı
Former names	Mecidiyeköy Stadium (1945–1964)
Location	Mecidiyeköy
Built	1943–1945 and 1945–1964
Opened	1945 and 1964
Renovated	1996, 2008
Expanded	1964, 2008
Closed	11 January 2011
Demolished	13 April 2011
Owner	Republic of Turkey
Surface	Grass
Capacity	23,477[2]
Executive Suites	69
Record attendance	48,600 (Turkey - Bulgaria)
Field dimensions	105 x 65 m
Tenants
Galatasaray SK Turkey national football team

Ali Sami Yen Stadium (Turkish: Ali Sami Yen Stadyumu) was the home of the football club Galatasaray SK in Istanbul, Turkey, from 1964 to 2010. It is named after the founder of the club, Ali Sami Yen. The stadium had a capacity of 23,477 (all-seater) and was situated in the Mecidiyeköy quarter of the Şişli district, at the center of the European side of the city.

History

Between 1921 and 1939, Galatasaray SK and the two other major football clubs of Istanbul, Beşiktaş JK and Fenerbahçe SK, played their matches at the historic Taksim Stadium^[3] on Taksim Square, which was located inside the courtyard of the Ottoman era Taksim Artillery Barracks (Taksim Topçu Kışlası) built by Sultan Abdülmecid I in the 1840s; the surrounding walls of which were transformed into tribunes. Taksim Stadium was demolished in 1939 and was replaced with the present-day Taksim Park (Taksim Gezi Parkı) in the 1940s and 1950s. As a result, the major football teams of Istanbul had to find a new stadium to play their matches. Galatasaray Sports Club decided to build a large, modern stadium, and construction works began in 1943. Due to the difficulties faced during the World War II years, only a small stadium could initially be built, which was opened in 1945. However, construction works continued on the site and the current stadium was completed in 1964.

The Main Stand

Ali Sami Yen Stadi was inaugurated on December 14, 1964, with a friendly game between Turkey and Bulgaria. Unfortunately, tragedy struck during the opening match: in one of the stands many people fell onto the first floor, which caused numerous injuries, but luckily none of them were fatal. Spotlights were added to the stadium in 1965, and night games began to be played (the lighting system was renovated in 1993). The stadium was made up of 2 identical lateral stands which were covered by a roof: the Numaralı (Numbered) stand, where the TV cameras were located; and the Kapalı (Covered) stand, where the most fanatical team supporters usually viewed the games. The two other stands, behind the goal gates, were the Yeni Açık (New Open), with 2 tiers, and the Eski Açık (Old Open), with the electronic scoreboard.

In the past, games were played in front of more than 35,000 spectators in this stadium, which is nicknamed "Hell" by Galatasaray's supporters because of its intimidating atmosphere and the enthusiastic support of the fans who often make mass use of torches, smoke, drums, flags and giant posters to create visual grandeur and apply psychological pressure on visiting teams. Ali Sami Yen is important for Galatasaray because it saw many victories against renowned European football clubs, such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Milan, Manchester United and many others.

The stadium was located in Mecidiyeköy, one of the most crowded quarters of central Istanbul, surrounded by dense urban development.

The new home ground of Galatasaray is the newly built Türk Telekom Arena in the Seyrantepe quarter near Maslak financial district in Şişli. The new stadium, which was opened 15 January 2011, has a capacity of 52,695 seats, making it the largest private stadium owned by a club in Turkey.

Games and tickets

A portion of the stadium, covering around 7,000 to 8,000 seats, were sold annually in the form of season tickets. Average number of fans per game was around 19,000, while the stadium had a capacity of 23,000.

Stands

The best atmosphere in the stadium was in the Kapalı (Covered) stand, where the most fanatical fans congregated. It has got a capacity of 5,500. For more comfort, the Numaralı (Numbered) stand was the best, but this was also the most expensive one. The capacity was 3,050. The Yeni Açık (New Open) stand had a capacity of 7,810. The stadium's most modern section was the rebuilt Eski Açık (Old Open) stand with a capacity of 7,117 seats.

Access

Access to Ali Sami Yen was very easy, as the stadium was not far from popular tourist locations such as Taksim Square. There are bus stops for several lines of the Metropolitan Municipality's bus network near where the stadium was situated. The subway station's name is "Şişli/Mecidiyeköy".

Milestones

• 1933 Galatasaray SK buys the plot in Mecidiyeköy
• 1 December 1936 Groundbreaking
• 1940 - 1944 Construction
• 3 September 1944 Stadium opened as "Mecidiyeköy Stadium" and first match: Elektrik SK vs. Emniyet SK
• 24 September 1944 First Galatasaray SK match vs. Süleymaniye SK (7-0)
• 1945 Construction of a single 15,000 concrete stand
• 1945-1964 Galatasaray SK used it as a training field
• 1954 Brazl's National Football team used it as training field
• 20 December 1964 Stadium opened as "Ali Sami Yen Stadium" and first match: Turkey vs Bulgaria
• 1965 Floodlights have been installed
• 29 September 1965 First Galatasaray match in the expanded and new called "Ali Sami Yen Stadi" vs. FC Sion (2-1)
• 1972-1980 Because of the bad pitch stadium is closed
• 1980-1984 Galatasaray plays again at Ali Sami Yen Stadi
• 1984-1986 Because of the new Highway bridge just behind the Yeni Açik stand stadium is closed
• 1993 All-seater. Capacity sinks from 35,000 to 22,000
• February 2005 Demolition of the Eski Açık Stand
• September 2005 New Eski Açık Stand opens. Capacity rises to 25,000
• 2008 Modernization and renovation of the first tier of the Kapalı Stand. Capacity sinks to 23,447
• 12 January 2011 Last match: Galatasaray SK 3-1 Şeker SK (Türkiye Kupasi)

Quotations

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Ali Sami Yen Stadium

• "I've never experienced anything like Galatasaray. Two hours before kick-off, we went out to have a look at the pitch and the stadium was packed! The chanting was brilliant: one side starts, then the other, then quiet, then all of them chanting!." (Ryan Giggs)^[4]
• "Nobody can make me believe that there are only 25,000 people in this stadium." (Paolo Maldini)^[5]
• "I love this Hell." (Pierluigi Collina)^[6]

Records

Galatasaray fans at the stadium

3D Virtual Tour

Ali Sami Yen Stadium 3D Virtual Tour

The Closure

Galatasaray's final game at the stadium was their Turkish Cup match on 11 Jan 2011 against Beypazarı Şekerspor. The team badly wanted to win in order to enter the new stadium, Turk Telekom Arena respectfully. Having been 1-0 behind, goals from captain Arda Turan, defender Servet Çetin and Colin Kazim-Richards made the final score 3-1. The demolition of this stadium began in April 2011.^[8]

The new stadium

Interior view of the new stadium Türk Telekom Arena

The new home ground of Galatasaray is the newly built Türk Telekom Arena in the Seyrantepe quarter near Maslak financial district in Şişli. The plans for the stadium were introduced to the Turkish press on May 11 2007.^[9] The new stadium, which was opened 15 January 2011, has a fully retractable roof and a seating capacity of 52,695 seats, making it the largest private stadium owned by a club in Turkey. The stadium also has its own metro station.

See also

• Sports in Turkey
• Turkcell Super League
• Istanbul

References and notes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ali Sami Yen Stadyumu

• Ali Sami Yen Stadium
• Satellite Photo of Ali Sami Yen Stadium

Coordinates: 41°03′55.62″N 28°59′56.28″E / 41.06545°N 28.9989667°E / 41.06545; 28.9989667