In the heart of Bursa lies one of Turkey's most distinctive football stadiums, the Timsah Arena, famously known as the Crocodile Stadium. Home to Bursaspor, a team nicknamed the Green Crocodiles, this stadium embodies the club's unique identity. With a roof and facade designed to resemble a giant resting crocodile, it stands as a striking blend of sport, culture, and architectural imagination.
Since its opening in 2015, Timsah Arena has transformed into more than just a football venue; it has become a landmark of the city. The bold design, featuring a green exterior and a crocodile-shaped form, sets it apart from traditional stadiums. The Crocodile Stadium is instantly recognisable worldwide and has attracted both football fans and tourists alike.
This post delves into the details of Bursaspor's home ground, arguably one of the most unusual football stadiums in the world today.
Crocodile Stadium: Home of Bursaspor
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Centennial Ataturk Stadium – the story of its design
The design of Bursaspor's new stadium was first proposed in 2010, inspired by the club's nickname, the “Crocodiles.” The design featured a large crocodile head at one end of the stadium. Construction began a year later, with an initial completion date set for 2013. However, due to various complications, the stadium ultimately opened in December 2015.
Bursaspor supporters expressed their dissatisfaction when the first match held at the new venue was between local teams and celebrities, rather than the club itself. The exterior of the stadium is designed with green membranes and glass sections to mimic a crocodile's skin. At the northern end of the venue, a crocodile head was structurally completed in 2018, but additional work was still needed to make it suitable for hosting commercial events, according to a report by StadiumDB in November 2019.
Crocodile Stadium photos and videos
Inside the ground, it has a unique layout with single-tiered stands at either end of the pitch. The West Stand is divided into three levels, and the East Stand into two levels.
Is Timsah Arena outside of football?
The Centennial Ataturk Stadium is mainly used for Bursaspor matches, who now play in the TFF 3. Lig, which is the fourth tier of Turkish football, after winning the Turkish Regional Amateur League in the 2023/24 season. Turkey’s men’s national team played a game at the crocodile-shaped venue in 2023. They faced Croatia in a qualifier for UEFA Euro 2024 on 28 March 2023 – a match that they lost 2-0 in front of 37,750 supporters.
FAQs about Crocodile Stadium
Will Crocodile Stadium host the European Championship in 2032?
The Turkish Football Federation has proposed the venue to be used in the 2032 Euro, a tournament that the country will co-host alongside Italy. The final decision on the venues to be used for the tournament will be made in October 2026, with only five Turkish stadiums set to be selected.
Which notable football matches have been staged at Crocodile Stadium?
Since it was opened in 2015, Bursaspor's home ground has hosted notable matches such as Turkey vs Croatia on 28 March 2023. In 2017, the venue hosted the Bursaspor vs Fenerbahce Super Lig clash, another high-profile encounter that demonstrated the capabilities of Crocodile Stadium.
What are the highest attendance records at Crocodile Stadium since it was opened?
The clash between Turkey and Croatia in 2023 attracted approximately 43,000 spectators. The 2017 Bursaspor and Fenerbahçe encounter saw 38,108 turn up at the venue.
What was the cost of building Crocodile Stadium?
The stadium gobbled up approximately $8.5 million in construction costs, a project that was funded by the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality.