Turkish club to play home games 1738 km away after stadium demolition

Turkish football club Vanspor will play its home matches 1,738 kilometers away from its city due to the demolition of Van Atatürk Stadium. The club has reached an agreement to use the stadium in Akhisar for its upcoming games.

The Van Atatürk Stadium, which began its demolition process, has left the team without a home ground. The stadium in Akhisar, where Vanspor will now play, has a spectator capacity of 12,139. Its last league match was on May 7, 2021, when Akhisarspor hosted Ümraniyespor. Following Akhisarspor's relegation, the stadium did not host any more league matches in the first division during the normal season.

Akhisar's Spor Toto Stadium has a history of hosting significant matches. On June 8, 2023, it was the venue for the 1st League Play-Off final between Bodrum FK and Pendikspor. Pendikspor secured their promotion to the Süper Lig for the first time in their history at this stadium, defeating Bodrum FK in the final.

Vanspor's decision to play so far from their home city highlights the challenges faced by clubs when their infrastructure is unavailable. The long distance will likely impact fan attendance and the team's home-field advantage.