Papara Park Stadium

Trabzon in the Akyazı region along the Black Sea coast, place area Papara Park is one of Türkiye's important sports facilities. The complex was built on the site of Trabzonspor's former stadium, Hüseyin Avni Aker. Construction, which began in 2013, involved reclaiming approximately 795,000 square meters from the sea, of which 418,000 square meters were allocated for the stadium and additional facilities. The complex was designed by architect Faruk Kanca and the German architectural firm ASP Architekten.

History and Opening

Papara Park, the new home of Trabzonspor, was officially opened on 29 January 2017 with a match between Trabzonspor and Gaziantepspor. During the opening ceremony, special footage never previously released from Trabzonspor’s 50-year history was shown, along with appearances by former players from the 1980s and 1990s. The opening ceremony was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Qatar Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

Architectural Design and Facilities

The design of Papara Park adopts a modern architectural understanding. The stadium building occupies an area of 418,000 square meters, of which 155,000 square meters are dedicated to sports facilities. Additionally, the complex includes over 1,400 parking spaces, 438 of which are covered. The triangular membrane panels used on the stadium’s exterior are tensioned using a lightweight steel roof system to create a modern and striking appearance.

Capacity and Amenities

Papara Park has a capacity of approximately 41,000 spectators. The two-tiered tribune layout features 122 private boxes. The stands are noted for their proximity to the pitch, with fans located 8.5 meters from the field on the sides and 10 meters behind the goal line. The complex also includes a Yavuz Selim field for amateur football, a 3,500-seat indoor sports hall, tennis courts, boxing, karate and bowling areas, along with various social facilities.