Konya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium
Konya, Turkey
Corendon Airlines Park
Antalya Turkey
Corendon Airlines Park is located in the vibrant Meltem district of Antalya, Turkey, and features an official capacity of 32,537 seats. Serving as the permanent home ground for Antalyaspor, a prominent competitor in the Turkish Super Lig, this state-of-the-art arena opened in 2015 and stands as a pioneering marvel of sustainable sports architecture, globally recognized for its fully circular design and its massive rooftop solar panel installation that generates enough clean energy to completely power the entire sports complex.
Arif miletli, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Capacity
29.307
Stadium History
History of the Stadium
The development of the arena began with a formal groundbreaking ceremony on June 23, 2013, as part of a nationwide initiative by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to replace aging athletic facilities with modern football-specific stadiums. Officially opening its doors on October 25, 2015, with a competitive domestic league match between Antalyaspor and Besiktas, the stadium replaced the old Akdeniz University Stadium and the historic Antalya Ataturk Stadium. Since its completion, the venue has established itself as a premier destination for Turkish football, hosting high-profile domestic fixtures, the 2016 Turkish Cup Final, and multiple international friendly matches for the Turkey national football team.
Architecture & Design
The building features a distinctive, perfectly circular exterior design engineered by the Azaksu Architecture Office. This geometric shape was intentionally chosen to mirror the classical amphitheaters found across the historic Greco-Roman archaeological sites of the Antalya province. The seating bowl itself is configured in a tight, multi-tiered rectangle inside the circular outer shell, bringing spectators closer to the touchlines to maximize sightlines. The most striking architectural feature is the massive roof structure, which is completely covered with thousands of solar modules designed to maximize solar absorption in one of the sunniest regions of the Mediterranean.
Major Renovations
Because the facility was constructed recently, the core concrete and steel infrastructure has not required extensive structural rebuilding. However, targeted modernizations have been completed to optimize the playing conditions and matchday revenue. The club upgraded the grass pitch to a advanced hybrid turf system to ensure the playing field remains resilient during congested winter schedules. Additional developments have focused on expanding the commercial use of the ground, including the integration of a seven thousand five hundred square meter shopping zone, enhanced media broadcast facilities, and tailored electronic ticketing systems that align with national football federation protocols.
Location & Matchday Experience
The sports complex is situated in the Meltem neighborhood, balancing urban accessibility with a prominent coastal city atmosphere. Positioned just a short distance from the Mediterranean coast and the Akdeniz University campus, the ground is deeply integrated into the daily life of Antalya. On matchdays, the wide concrete plazas surrounding the circular outer walls transform into an energetic fan hub where thousands of supporters gather under the palm trees, creating a relaxed yet highly enthusiastic Mediterranean festival environment hours before the official kickoff time.
Origin of the Stadium Name
The arena was historically inaugurated under the geographical title of Antalya Stadium, reflecting its status as the premier municipal sports venue of the city. In recent campaigns, the facility entered into a lucrative commercial naming rights agreement with Corendon Airlines, a prominent international aviation company headquartered in the region. This commercial partnership officially rebranded the matchday venue as Corendon Airlines Park for all domestic Turkish Super Lig and cup fixtures.
Former Names & Rebranding
Prior to the current corporate partnership, the venue was known around the world simply as the Antalya Stadium, or Antalya Stadyumu in the local language. During the initial planning and construction phases, the project was also frequently referenced by regional sports journalists and municipal planners as the New Antalya Stadium or the Antalya Arena, though the latter title was officially dropped to comply with national stadium naming directives before the long-term contract with Corendon Airlines was finalized.
Capacity & Configuration
The exact seating capacity is verified at 32,537 all-seater positions divided across a continuous multi-tiered bowl. The layout features 42 luxury executive suites positioned between the lower and upper decks, alongside six dedicated VIP entrances and a spacious presidential box. The seating arrangement uses a combination of red and white plastic chairs that spell out the initials of the resident club, with the lowest rows positioned just meters away from the technical areas to maintain an intimate viewing environment.
Records & Fun Facts
The absolute stadium attendance record was established on May 26, 2016, when a capacity crowd of 32,537 spectators packed the grandstands to witness the fierce Turkish Cup Final derby between Istanbul giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. A unique environmental fact defines the venue, as its rooftop solar energy grid consists of over twelve thousand individual panels that produce an average of 7,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day, making it one of the most eco-friendly and energy-autonomous sports stadiums in the global football landscape.
Who's play in Corendon Airlines Park
How to get to Corendon Airlines Park
The stadium is located approximately four kilometers west of the historic Kaleici city center of Antalya and is highly accessible via the city efficient public transport network. The absolute best option for spectators is to utilize the Antray light rail system, taking the T1A or T1B tram lines directly to the Meltem station, which positions travelers within a convenient ten-minute walk of the main turnstiles. Additionally, multiple municipal bus routes, including lines VF01, AC03, and KC06, run frequent schedules along the adjacent Sakip Sabanci Boulevard, stopping directly outside the stadium gates. For travelers arriving from Antalya Airport, taking the tram line directly from the terminal to the Meltem transit hub provides a seamless route, while drivers can utilize the onsite public parking spaces, though public transit remains the recommended choice due to matchday traffic adjustments.
Best seats, view and atmosphere
Spectators looking for an elite, comfortable matchday experience with a premium, unobstructed side-on view of the match should secure tickets in the central blocks of the West Stand, which houses the primary VIP lounges, executive boxes, and cushioned business seating under the full shade of the canopy. Families and neutral international groundhoppers will find an exceptionally welcoming and calm viewing environment in the upper tiers of the East Stand, which offers an excellent panoramic view of the entire playing field. The most passionate and vocal home atmosphere is generated behind the goals in the South Stand, where the dedicated Antalyaspor supporter groups gather to chant and wave flags throughout the ninety minutes, making this zone less suitable for those wanting a quiet afternoon. Visiting away supporters are completely segregated in a specific upper corner section of the North Stand, accessed via independent security turnstiles and equipped with dedicated catering facilities.
Corendon Airlines Park Tour & Behind the Scenes
Official behind-the-scenes stadium tours are coordinated periodically by the Antalyaspor club management on non-matchdays, granting visitors exclusive access to the inner workings of the modern sports complex. The guided route takes fans through the player dressing rooms, the medical treatment facilities, the official press conference room, the corporate hospitality skyboxes, and the player tunnel leading directly to the edge of the pitch. Tour bookings and schedule confirmations are handled through the administrative offices at the stadium site, though public access is entirely suspended on matchdays and during official first-team training sessions.
Where to eat and drink near Corendon Airlines Park
Because the venue is located within a mixed residential and university district, the immediate surroundings feature numerous local cafes and casual dining spots rather than traditional football pubs. On matchdays, independent mobile food trailers park along the avenues of the Meltem quarter, selling popular Turkish street food including doner kebab wraps, grilled kofte sandwiches, and midye tava. Inside the stadium concourses, multiple concession stands operate throughout the match, selling soft drinks, traditional Turkish tea, and snacks, though spectators should note that the sale of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited inside the stadium gates during domestic Turkish Super Lig fixtures.
Good to know
Security measures at the stadium entrance gates are exceptionally thorough, requiring all spectators to possess a valid Passolig digital card, which is the mandatory national electronic ticketing system required to enter top-flight football matches in Turkey. Visitors are strongly advised to arrive at the Meltem tram stop at least seventy-five minutes prior to the scheduled kickoff to navigate the electronic turnstiles and dual-layered body searches without missing the start of the game. Large bags, backpacks, professional camera gear, lighters, coins, and plastic bottles are strictly prohibited inside the arena, and the venue does not maintain a public storage locker facility. All concession stands inside operate on a completely cashless payment system, requiring standard credit or debit cards for all transactions.
Fan Shop
The primary official Antalyaspor Store megastore is situated directly within the stadium structure, occupying a large ground-floor retail space built into the outer circular wall of the West Stand facing the main pedestrian approach. This flagship outlet opens daily and extends its operating hours during home matchdays, stocking a complete range of genuine club merchandise, including the official Nike replica playing kits, training shirts, club scarves, hats, and specialized club souvenirs. The club also maintains smaller retail kiosks and mobile trailers inside the stadium plazas during high-profile fixtures, ensuring fans can purchase official gear easily before heading to their seats.
FAQ
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