Eczacıbaşı Voleybol Salonu

Eczacıbaşı Voleybol Salonu stands in the Kartal district of Istanbul as the dedicated, modern home ground of Eczacıbaşı Sports Club, an athletic institution established in 1966 that has long served as the locomotive of Turkish volleyball. Carrying a 60-year club heritage, the organization combines elite professional competition with a social mission centered on cultivating empowered female athletes. In recognition of this sustained contribution to sports, the club holds the IOC 2018 Women and Sport World Trophy awarded by the International Olympic Committee. Designed by Yazgan Tasarım Mimarlık, the facility officially opened on October 1, 2025, establishing an all-in-one sports center in Kartal's Yunus neighborhood that delivers on the club's vision of a next-generation sports experience ("Yeni Nesil Spor Deneyimi"). The complex is engineered to serve multiple generations of athletes, housing premier league women's volleyball clashes alongside structured grassroots training. With cutting-edge court technology, spectator grandstands, and specialized athletic amenities, the arena functions as an active hub for competitive fixtures, season-ticket match attendance, and nationwide youth training initiatives. For volleyball supporters and local sports communities across Istanbul, the venue provides a centralized destination to experience high-level volleyball within a modern facility built to international standards. It brings together fans, visiting teams, and young trainees under a single architectural roof designed for optimal court visibility, player performance, and community engagement.

Activities and Facilities

Eczacıbaşı Voleybol Salonu offers an extensive range of athletic infrastructure and spectator programs structured around elite matchdays, player development, and corporate engagement. The centerpiece of the facility is its 4,000-seat main arena, designed in strict compliance with the international standards of the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) and CEV (European Volleyball Confederation). Alongside the central competition court, the building incorporates a dedicated training hall containing 3 full-sized volleyball courts, allowing simultaneous practice sessions for professional squads and developmental rosters.

Grassroots athletic education is anchored by the "Geleceğe Smaç" youth initiative, an expansive training program accessible through a formal youth application form. The youth academy is structured into competitive age-group teams, including the Küçük Kız Takımı, Midi Kız Takımı, Yıldız Kız Takımı, and Genç Kız Takımı. Strategic oversight of the developmental pipeline is led by Hüseyin Doğanyüz, who serves as the Youth Technical Coordinator and 1st League Team Head Coach, following a three-year contract extension after leading operations since 2024.

For match attendees, ticketing services are structured around seasonal campaigns, with general public sales open for the 2026–2027 Season Tickets ("2026–2027 Sezonu Kombineleri"). Spectator amenities include a 250-person VIP hospitality lounge and 4 private suites with a combined capacity for 80 guests. The facility also houses an on-site athlete residential wing containing 12 rooms with 22 beds for resident sportspeople, alongside a club museum that exhibits championship trophies and historic memorabilia. Corporate partnerships are integrated through three formal sponsorship tiers: Club Rights ("Kulüp Hakları"), Hall Rights ("Salon Hakları"), and Match Day Rights ("Maç Günü Hakları"), enabling brands to connect directly with the club's ecosystem.

The Experience and Who It Suits

The atmosphere inside Eczacıbaşı Voleybol Salonu is lively, energetic, and thoroughly contemporary, centered around the passion of top-tier women's volleyball. Designed by Yazgan Tasarım Mimarlık, the arena presents a striking visual identity featuring a 120-meter-long parametric aluminum mesh exterior facade and an eco-friendly roof completely covered in photovoltaic solar energy panels. This architectural execution has earned notable recognition, including a Special Mention in the Stadiums and Arenas category at the 2026 Architizer A+ Awards and the 2025 Arkitera Employer Award in the Private Sector Category, as recorded in architecture project listings.

Matchdays deliver high-tempo competitive sporting action under the leadership of Senior Team Head Coach Giulio Bregoli. Supporters in the stands witness national and international volleyball stars in action, including team liberos Simge Aköz (#2) and Selin Adalı (#3), alongside key team players such as Aslı Kalaç, Aleksandra Uzelac, Sinead Jack-Kisal (who contributed 14 points in the Final Four final match), and Ebrar Karakurt (who led the team as top scorer with 20 points in the Final Four final). Digital match coverage and multimedia highlights are distributed through Tigers TV and curated photo gallery collections, enhancing the fan experience beyond the physical court.

The facility is thoughtfully tailored to distinct user groups. For passionate volleyball fans and club supporters, it offers an electrifying match atmosphere with clear court visibility and premium executive seating. For aspiring young athletes and families, the venue provides a safe, inspiring environment where children can watch world-class role models before stepping onto the training courts through grassroots programs. Whether attending a high-stakes league match or enrolling a young player in sports development, visitors encounter an energetic, family-friendly athletic center.

Location and Practical Details

Eczacıbaşı Voleybol Salonu is situated in the Kartal district on the Asian side of Istanbul, located specifically at Yunus, Ulunay Cd. No:11, 34873 Kartal İstanbul/Türkiye. The facility sits along Ulunay Street in the Yunus neighborhood, positioned within a convenient five-minute walking distance of the Marmaray Yunus Train Station. This rail connectivity provides direct and reliable public transit access for spectators, youth players, and visiting delegations traveling from both the Asian and European corridors of Istanbul.

Operational programming at the venue is aligned with the active 2026–2027 Season ("2026–2027 Sezonu"). Spectators wishing to secure regular attendance for club matches can purchase season passes through the official "Şimdi Satın Al" (Buy Now) portal, which manages general sales for the 2026–2027 season passes. For prospective young student-athletes looking to join the club's development system or the "Geleceğe Smaç" program, registrations and trials are processed directly by submitting the standardized "Altyapı Başvuru Formu" (Youth Application Form).

Direct communication with venue management and sports club administration is available through dedicated telephone and digital channels. Visitors and corporate representatives can reach administrative staff by phone at +90 216 217 24 40 or +90 216 217 24 96. Official inquiries, group ticketing requests, and program information can also be submitted via email at [email protected]. With clear rail links to the Marmaray network and dedicated registration platforms, planning a visit for competition fixtures or youth training sessions is straightforward.

The Mio Angle: As an Activity Spot

On Mio, Eczacıbaşı Voleybol Salonu stands out as a premier destination recommendation for sports enthusiasts, families, and community members searching for high-energy weekend activities in Istanbul. Unlike conventional sports grounds, this purpose-built arena in Kartal offers an immersive matchday environment where visitors can witness elite European and Turkish women's volleyball up close. For community members asking "where to go for a live sporting event," attending a home game offers a lively, family-safe atmosphere that combines competitive excitement with the prestige of a club founded in 1966.

For parents and youth mentors on Mio seeking structured athletic activities, the venue serves as the primary gateway to the "Geleceğe Smaç" development initiative and age-division teams (Küçük, Midi, Yıldız, and Genç Kız). Recommending this spot connects young players with professional training overseen by Youth Technical Coordinator Hüseyin Doğanyüz. Furthermore, corporate groups and private parties on Mio can leverage the venue's premium hospitality options, including the 250-person VIP zone and 4 private executive lounges accommodating up to 80 guests, supported by structured Match Day Rights and Hall Rights sponsorship platforms.

From a visual and social sharing standpoint, the facility offers compelling photo opportunities. Visitors frequently capture the distinctive 120-meter parametric aluminum mesh exterior facade, the solar-paneled roof architecture, the expansive 4,000-seat bowl, and historical exhibits inside the club museum that showcase six decades of championship trophies alongside the IOC 2018 Women and Sport World Trophy. With Tigers TV broadcasting match highlights and seamless transit via the nearby Marmaray Yunus Station, this venue earns its spot on Mio as a modern, energetic athletic landmark worth sharing.