Recep Şahin Köktürk Spor Salonu

The Recep Şahin Köktürk Spor Salonu sits in the Gümüşsuyu neighborhood. The name belongs to a former mayor, but the building itself is managed by the Beykoz Municipality. The wooden parquet floor has been renewed at least once. Beykoz Belediyespor, the men’s handball side, plays its matches here, while the basketball team, once known as Beykozspor and later TTNet Beykoz, used the space when they competed in the second division. The capacity is small—625 for handball, though it can hold more for other events. There is no roof to catch the echoes; the sounds simply dissipate into the streets of Istanbul. In October 2025, the facility faced a sudden halt. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality closed the doors, citing seismic safety concerns and the need for comprehensive renovation. This decision triggered a jurisdictional dispute that lingered for months. Management was eventually transferred back to the local Beykoz administration, and the complex began to reopen in phases. The swimming pool next door, part of the same complex, saw its own renovation and reopened in May 2026, a sign that the area is slowly returning to normalcy. The hall has hosted smaller events, such as the 2011 International Turkey Junior Badminton Tournament, which drew athletes from across Europe. These moments are fleeting, remembered only by those present. The venue does not seek fame; it serves the teams that play there. The parking lot holds sixty cars, a modest number for a city of millions, but enough for the families who come to watch their children compete. The history of the place is written in the wear on the floorboards and the faces in the stands, not in plaques or press releases. It is a place for sport, nothing more.

The building remains a functional space, defined by its purpose rather than its past. The closure was a disruption, but the return to activity suggests resilience. The teams continue to train, and the matches are played under the same lights that have shone since 1986.