Audio GuideÜlker Stadium Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Sport Complex

At the heart of Istanbul’s Kadıköy district stands the Ülker Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex—a place where history, sport, and Turkish culture come together. Today, it echoes with the voices and celebrations of passionate supporters, but its story began over a century ago.

Adım Adım

Long before the stadium was built, the site was known as Papazın Çayırı, or the priest’s meadow—a sweeping green space where young people and some of Istanbul’s earliest teams would play football at the start of the twentieth century. As early as nineteen o eight, it was converted into Turkey’s first official football league pitch, laying the foundations for the city’s organised football scene.

Furkan A.

Over the years, the ground changed hands and identities, reflecting political changes and sporting rivalries. It was once known as Union Club Field, and later as İttihatspor Field, with major teams like Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş all playing there at various times. After the First World War, the shifting political landscape saw the site handed over to the state, but it was not long before Fenerbahçe made it their own. In the nineteen thirties, under Şükrü Saracoğlu—then the club president, and later Turkey’s fifth prime minister—the land was purchased by the club. Saracoğlu’s contribution is so significant that today the stadium bears his name.

Bayram AKTAŞ

Over the decades, the stadium has been modernised, balancing its proud traditions with state-of-the-art facilities. Its hybrid turf pitch and capacity for more than forty-seven thousand spectators now provide an impressive setting for the beautiful game. Luxurious VIP areas, comfortable suites, and an extensive club museum serve as reminders of the stadium’s commitment to innovation and hospitality.

Salih Gülücü

Among its numerous iconic moments, one stands out: the last ever UEFA Cup Final in two thousand and nine, when supporters from all over Europe gathered for a night that became part of football history.

Outside, bronze statues and busts pay tribute to greats such as Atatürk, Lefter Küçükandonyadis, Can Bartu, and Alex—each commemorating a figure who helped shape Fenerbahçe and Turkish sport.

Devoted fans treat this place almost as a shrine; every matchday transforms the stadium with colour, music, and deep emotion—making the Ülker Stadium an inseparable part of Istanbul’s urban and cultural life.