Beşiktaş denies construction halt over historical ruins

ISTANBUL

Daily Radikal published a story earlier this week claiming that the Board of Protection of Cultural Assets had requested a report after historical ruins were discovered during construction at the site. DHA Photo

Beşiktaş Chairman Fikret Orman denied reports that construction at the İnönü Stadium was halted following an Istanbul Archaeology Museum report on recently discovered historical ruins underneath the stadium, stating that the brief break was caused by a scheduled show at the site.

Reports surfaced earlier claiming authorities had halted the construction work on the stadium due to the presence of historical ruins underneath it, but Orman said that was not the case.

“We stopped construction so it wouldn’t be all dusty with rubble all around during the concert. Once the concert is over, we will continue the work,” Orman told the Turkish sports website Sporx, while completely dismissing reports of discoveries.

“We are only taking down the seats now, we are still above ground. We haven’t even gone beneath yet,” Orman said.

An Iron Maiden concert is scheduled to take place at the stadium July 16.

Daily Radikal published a story earlier this week claiming that the Board of Protection of Cultural Assets had requested a report after historical ruins were discovered during construction at the site, prompting archaeologists to study and photograph the ruins. The story added that officials had requested a halt of construction citing the presence of the archaeological site underneath, rendering the aboveground work illegal.

Board head Cafer Bozkur told a club fan website that such reports were part of “minor misgivings” along the way, and should be considered “a small accident.”

“Beşiktaş has so far done everything legally. Minor misgivings can happen. Let’s see this as a small accident. We liked the new project for the Beşiktaş Stadium, that’s why we approved it,” Bozkurt said, adding that the exact results of the board’s inspection would be announced the next day.

The legendary İnönü Stadium of Beşiktaş, one of Turkey’s biggest football clubs, in the Beşiktaş district along the Bosphorus shore is being replaced with a more modern and lucrative one.

The symbolic beginning of the old stadium’s demolition was marked June 2 when Orman smashed the first chunk of concrete from the north end’s third tier.

The stadium is being demolished and a new one will be rebuilt 23 meters north of its current location.

The new facilities will include new stands, while preserving the historical southern façade and western main entrance gate. Inside, a colonnade is to encircle the new stands, supporting a cable roof with a membrane cover. Under the new structure a 600-car parking lot for VIPs is planned.

Debt-ridden Beşiktaş had been planning to renovate İnönü to turn the venue into a more lucrative one, similar to projects by its rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe in recent years.