Vefa Stadium

{{Short description|Football stadium in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey}} {{Infobox venue | name = Vefa Stadı | nickname = | image = 250px | fullname = | location = Fatih, Istanbul | coordinates = {{coord|41|1|40|N|28|56|20|E|display=inline,title}}<ref name=wikimapia>{{cite news|url= https://wikimapia.org/1264272/tr/Karag%C3%BCmr%C3%BCk-Vefa-Stad%C4%B1 |publisher=wikimapia.com |access-date=2011-09-19 |title= BKaragümrük (Vefa) Stadı (İstanbul)|language=tr}}</ref> | broke_ground = | built = 1926<ref name=ibbgovtr>{{cite news|url= http://www.ibb.gov.tr/tr-tr/pages/haber.aspx?newsid=15331 |publisher=ibb.gov.tr |access-date=2011-09-19 |date= 2007-12-10|title= Büyükşehir tarihi Karagümrük Stadı'nı spor kompleksine dönüştürüyor…|language=tr}}</ref> | opened = 1945-46 | renovated = 2007-08 | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = Gençlik ve Spor Genel Müdürlüğü<ref name=gsgm>{{cite news|url= http://www.istanbul-gsim.gov.tr/index.php/tesislerimiz/219-fatih/351-vefa-stadi.html |publisher=istanbul-gsim.gov.tr |access-date=2011-09-19 |title= Vefa Stadı|language=tr}}</ref> | operator = | surface = Grass (Natural)<ref name=gsgm/><ref name=tff1 /> | construction_cost = 30.000.000 TRY<ref name=ibbgovtr/> | architect = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | project_manager = | main_contractors = | former_names = Çukurbostan Sahası<ref name=ibbgovtr/><ref name=fatihkaragumruk/> | tenants = Fatih Karagümrük <br> Vefa SK | seating_capacity = 12,500 (all seated) <ref name=ibbgovtr/><ref name=fatihkaragumruk>{{cite news|url= http://www.fatihkaragumruk.org/fatihkaragumruk.asp?s_id=4#Stad%C4%B1m%C4%B1z |publisher=fatihkaragumruk.org |access-date=2011-09-19 |title= Stadımız|language=tr}}</ref> <br> 6,500 (pre-construction)<ref name=tff1 /> | dimensions = }}

'''Vefa Stadı''' ({{langx|en|Vefa Stadium}}) (also named '''Karagümrük Stadı/Arena'''<ref name=ibbgovtr/>) is a football stadium located in Fatih, Istanbul that is the home ground of Fatih Karagümrük.<ref name=uzaydanbak>{{cite news|url= http://www.uzaydanbak.com/points/details/100276 |publisher=uzaydanbak.com|access-date=2011-09-19 |title= Fatih Karagümrük Stadı, Istanbul|language=tr}}</ref><ref name=tff1>{{cite news|url= http://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageID=28&kulupID=3611 |publisher=tff.org |access-date=2011-09-19 |title= Stat Bilgileri: Vefa|language=tr}}</ref><ref name=tff2>{{cite news|url= http://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageID=28&kulupID=3611 |publisher=tff.org |access-date=2011-09-19 |title= Vefa - Fatih Karagümrük|language=tr}}</ref>

Vefa Stadı is occasionally in use for the promotional play-off encounters in lower-tier leagues, other sports including American football<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.nfltr.com/tr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=222:kuluepler-ligi-finali-vefa-stadnda&catid=49:tafl&Itemid=169 |publisher=nfltr.com |access-date=2011-09-19 |date= 2009-05-28|title= Kulüpler Ligi Finali Vefa Stadı'nda!|language=tr}}</ref> and for public holiday ceremonies.

==History== Karagümrük Stadium was initially used as a football home ground in 1926, in the middle of a dip garden waves from Byzantium Era, called Çukurbostan in Çukurbostan district of Fatih. Stadium is constructed in ''Aetius Cistern'', on Fevzi Paşa Caddesi ({{langx|en|Fevzi Paşa Avenue}}), heading to Edirnekapı district of Fatih.<ref name=kenthaber>{{cite news|url= http://www.kenthaber.com/Haber/Genel/Kose/yilmaz-erguvenc/vefa-stadi--/cfbfd111-a6a9-4861-9dce-328d09522e31|publisher= kenthaber.com|access-date= 2011-09-19|year= 2008|title= Vefa Stadı|language= tr|archive-date= 2012-04-06|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120406073959/http://www.kenthaber.com/Haber/Genel/Kose/yilmaz-erguvenc/vefa-stadi--/cfbfd111-a6a9-4861-9dce-328d09522e31|url-status= dead}}</ref> Due to the Byzantiumeferences, the cistern is built in AD 420, by praetorian prefect Aetius during the rule of Theodosius II (reigned between 408 – 450).<ref name=kenthaber/> The cistern is 244x84 m. and 15 m. deeper than surface, surrounded by 15 m. high walls.<ref name=kenthaber/> Due to the archeological importance of the cistern, the walls had been protected at the initial stadium project.

The conversion had been started in 1926. In 1945, when the stadium construction was finalized, the tenant rights were taken over by Hasan Âli Yücel, an alumnus of Vefa Lisesi and former Minister of National Education, and given to by Vefa SK, another football club of the district; as Stadium also was renamed Vefa Stadı.

===Renovation=== The renovation of stadium has begun to be conducted in 2007, with 30.000.000 TRY grand cost,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://v3.arkitera.com/news.php?action=displayNewsItem&ID=22900 |publisher=arkitera.com |access-date=2011-09-19 |date= 2007-12-10|title= Belediye'den Vefa Stadı'na vefa!..|language=tr}}</ref> consisting 11.722 seated 3 all-covered stands (including 7.648 behind the goal, 1.024 for away side and 24 seats for visitors), one 66m2 VIP lodge, 6 normal lodges, and a 682 seats capacity VIP stand.<ref name=tumgazeteler>{{cite news|url=http://www.tumgazeteler.com/?a=2441171 |publisher=tumgazeteler.com |author= Kılıç, Yasin |access-date=2011-09-19 |date= 2007-12-23|title= Karagümrük Stadı spor kompleksine dönüştürülecek|language=tr}}</ref> The project<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sunumer.ibb.gov.tr/karagumruk-stadi-spor-kompleksi |publisher=ibb.gov.tr |access-date=2011-09-19 |date=2007-12-10 |title=TKaragümrük Stadı Spor Kompleksi |language=tr |archive-date=2011-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102062951/http://sunumer.ibb.gov.tr/karagumruk-stadi-spor-kompleksi |url-status=dead }}</ref> also includes basketball, table tennis, and martial arts facilities.<ref name=tumgazeteler2>{{cite news|url=http://www.tumgazeteler.com/?a=2420792 |publisher=tumgazeteler.com |access-date=2011-09-19 |date= 2007-12-23|title= Tarihi Karagümrük Stadı kompleks oluyor|language=tr}}</ref> right|thumb|260px|Stadium view from the avenue

==See also== * Cistern of Aetius

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://tff.org/Default.aspx?pageID=394&stadID=102 Stadium Profile] at TFF

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vefa Stadium}} Category:Football venues in Turkey Category:Sports venues in Istanbul Category:Sports venues completed in 1926 Category:Sport in Fatih