10.11.2026 17:12
Evacuation has begun at the 5,000-seat Aspendos Arena in Antalya’s Serik district, which hosts the performances of the Anadolu Ateşi Dance Company. After the eviction case filed by landowner Hüseyin Avni Aykol against the tenant company in 2018 was finalized, the company’s materials began to be removed from the area. The Antalya Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board had ruled in 2017 that the area be demolished.
In the Serik district of Antalya, the evacuation process has begun at the 5,000-capacity Aspendos Arena, which hosts the performances of the Anadolu Ateşi Dance Group, in line with a court decision. Following the long-running legal process between landowner Hüseyin Avni Aykol and the tenant company, the evacuation decision became final, and the removal of materials from the site has started.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED AFTER LEAVING THE ANCIENT THEATER
The Anadolu Ateşi Dance Group performed for many years at the historic Aspendos Ancient Theater in Serik. The group, which took the stage at the ancient theater until 2008, had to pause its performances due to restoration work. Thereupon, the group rented land in Belkıs Neighborhood, close to the Aspendos Ancient Theater, owned by Hüseyin Avni Aykol. On the land, the Aspendos Arena Performance Center, measuring 1,260 square meters and with a capacity of approximately 5,000 spectators, was established.
A DEMOLITION DECISION WAS ISSUED IN 2017
The legal process regarding Aspendos Arena began over the archaeological site status of the area where the structure is located and zoning legislation. In 2017, the Antalya Regional Conservation Council for Cultural Property decided that the performance center should be demolished. Meanwhile, the legal processes concerning demolition decisions and administrative fines imposed by the Serik Municipality for illegal structures were finalized through higher court decisions. Following these developments, landowner Hüseyin Avni Aykol also filed an eviction lawsuit against the tenant company in 2018.
THE EVICTION DECISION BECAME FINAL
After the eviction decision became final in the long-running legal process between landowner Hüseyin Avni Aykol and the company to which Anadolu Ateşi is affiliated, clearance operations began at the performance center. Materials belonging to Anadolu Ateşi General Publication Director Mustafa Erdoğan began to be removed from the site.