Yıldız Integrated Kocaeli Stadium

General Information

The Kocaeli Stadium is located in the area of Ali Kahya Sports Facilities in eastern Kocaeli, approximately 7 kilometers from the city center. Designed to serve as one of Kocaeli’s iconic structures, the stadium has a total built-up area of approximately 90,000 square meters. Stadium has a seating capacity of around 35,000, including VIP and UEFA-compliant seats. In addition to the 752 chair-capacity loge section, there are a total of 187 loges across the east and west stands. The facility also includes 21 elevators and a total of 1,215 parking spaces, 646 of which are covered, along with dedicated areas for buses.

Architectural Design

The architectural design of the Kocaeli Stadium was carried out by team under the leadership of Senior Architect Alper Aksoy. The stadium’s architectural form draws inspiration from the “pi "translation": "pişmaniye"}”, a well-known natural feature of İzmit and Balkans. In the initial design, the exterior cladding was composed of thin white strips, with team colors in black and green incorporated into the scheme. The originally diagonal strips were later adjusted to a horizontal orientation during design optimization. Dark green strips, partially formed by perforated cladding, allow natural light to enter the stadium.

Structural and Technical Features

The stadium features a two-tiered tribune layout. The slope of the lower stands is 22 degree, while the upper stands exceed 30 degrees, with the closest point of the stands to the pitch being just 7.5 meters away. This feature ensures spectators a closer and clearer viewing experience. The stadium’s perimeter has been organized to accommodate pedestrian and pedestrian circulation, with a total parking capacity of 1,215 vehicles, 646 of which are covered. Additionally, 512 tree trees have been planted around the stadium to enhance the landscape landscape.

Multifunctional Usage Areas

The Kocaeli Stadium has been designed as a multifunctional venue, not only for football matches but also as an economic entertainment hub and, when needed, as a shelter for natural disasters. Between the seating levels, there are restaurants, kiosks, and a food court capable of serving approximately 500 people. The stadium also includes social areas, retail shops, and ticket sales booths both inside and around the facility.

Construction Process

Construction of the stadium began in the summer of 2013, but despite completion of the foundation structure, its opening was only realized in mid-2018. During construction, the elevated position of the land was advantageously utilized to add two-story underground parking beneath the southern section and single-story underground parking around the perimeter. Financing for the project was provided by TOKİ.