The Champions League final is arguably the most prestigious game in all of club football. The best of the best from around the continent fight for this honour and at the end, one team is crowned as the best in Europe. Needless to say, to hold an event of this gravitas, an iconic stadium must be chosen. Ataturk Olympic Stadium is this year’s choice for the grand spectacle.
Champions League finals have always been held in iconic stadiums, like Wembley, Camp Nou, and more. Even Ataturk Olympic Stadium has held Champions League finals before, in the legendary 2004/05 final, better known as “The Miracle of Istanbul“.
Here’s all you need to know about the venue of choice for this season’s UCL final, the iconic Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
Where is the Ataturk Olympic Stadium?
The Ataturk Olympic Stadium is located in Turkey’s western district of Ikitelli, in the city of Istanbul.
The construction of the stadium began in 1999 and was completed in 2002. It is Turkey’s biggest stadium and has been home to many Turkish sides. After short spells as the home ground for Istanbul Basaksehir, Galatasaray (One season), Sivasspor, and Besiktas, it regularly hosts Fatih Karagumruk’s games in the first tier of Turkish football.
Ataturk Olympic Stadium capacity and origin of its name
Constructed as a part of Turkey’s bid for the 2008 Olympics, which eventually failed, the Ataturk Olympic Stadium can seat over 76,000 people.
It gets its name from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and first President of Turkey. It was granted the “5-star sports complex” status by UEFA in 2004, making it qualified to host marquee European football events. Consequently, the final of the Champions League the season after that was awarded to Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
UEFA Champions League 2023 final venue
The stadium was originally scheduled to host the final of the 2020 Champions League when Bayern Munich beat PSG 1-0. However, due to the rampant COVID pandemic at the time in Turkey, it was relocated to Estadio da Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal.
It was later decided that the stadium would host the 2023 Champions League final instead. A record attendance figure at this stadium is expected for the final. So far, the highest attendance recorded at Ataturk Olympic Stadium is 79,414, for a game between Galatasaray and Olympiacos in 2002.
Although that record is unlikely to be beaten due to the stadium’s reduced capacity since, the figure of 69,000 will certainly be surpassed, set during the Liverpool vs AC Milan UCL final of 2005.
Who will play at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in the UCL Final? Read more about UCL Semifinal predictions below:
Real Madrid vs Man City prediction
AC Milan vs Inter Milan prediction