Taksim Stadium

Taksim Stadium
Location Taksim, İstanbul
Built Taksim Military Barracks
Opened 1921
Closed 1939
Demolished 1940
Capacity 8,000

Taksim Stadium (Turkish: Taksim Stadı) was the first football stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. Originally the 19th century Taksim Artillery Barracks (Taksim Topçu Kışlası) it was transformed into a stadium in 1921 and was located in the center of the city, on Taksim Square.[1] The ground was the home of all major football clubs in Istanbul, including Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş. The stadium had a seating capacity of around 8,000. It was closed in 1939 and demolished in 1940, during the renovation works of Taksim Square. The site was converted to a public park, named the Taksim Gezi Parkı.[2]

The first game of the Turkish national football team was played at the Taksim Stadium against Romania on October 26, 1923, and ended in a 2–2 draw, with both goals of Turkey scored by Zeki Rıza Sporel.[3][4]

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