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Solemn opening ceremony of Galatasarayâ€™s new stadium to take place January 15, 2011 â€“ PHOTOSESSION

Solemn opening ceremony of Galatasarayâ€™s new stadium to take place January 15, 2011 â€“ <font color=red>PHOTOSESSION</font>

22 December 2010 10:04 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. The official opening ceremony of the new stadium of Turkish Galatasaray sports club will be held on January 15, 2011. APA reports quoting the official website of the club that Galatasaray-Ajax (Netherlands) friendly match will be held in the opening of the new modern stadium Turk Telekom Arena. The match will start at 20.00 by local time.

The opening ceremony will start at 18.00. The two-hour solemn ceremony will be attended by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ministers, parliamentarians, representatives of sports community, members of Galatasaray club, former and present players of the club and singers.

Turk Telekom Arena named after the sponsor has been constructed in Seyrantepe settlement in Sisli. The foundation of the stadium was laid on December 13, 2007. Varyap-Uzunlar consortium built the stadium worth â‚¬ 170 million. The stadium has a capacity of 52,560. It is the only stadium in line with the 2016 criteria of UEFA football stadiums. The stadium will be covered in May next year.

The last match will be played in Ali Sami Yen stadium, which has been the home of Galatasaray for long years, on January 11, 2011. Galatasaray-Beypazari match will be held that day. Farewell ceremony with Ali Sami Yen stadium, which is known as â€œHellâ€ by the Europeans, will be held before and after the match. After this ceremony Ali Sami Yen stadium will be demolished. Beginning from the second half of the Turkish championship (late January) Galatasaray will play its matches in Turk Telekom Arena.