Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ENTERTAINMENT
İSTANBUL JAZZ CENTER
OFFLINE MAP
| JAZZ
12.30am Mon-Sat, closed summer; Kabataş Lisesi)
JC's plays regular host to members of the
jazz world's who's-who. Its location in the Golden Mile accounts for the steep bill for din-
ner plus music and drinks.
THE BIG THREE
The Big Three (Üç Büyükler) teams in the national Super League (
SüperLig
) are Galatasaray (nick-
name: the Lions), Fenerbahçe (nickname: the Golden Canaries) and Beşiktaş (the Black Eagles). All
are based in İstanbul, and locals are extravagantly proud of them. Indeed, when Galatasaray became
the first Turkish team to win a UEFA Cup (in 2000), locals went wild with excitement - in many eyes
it was probably the most significant event since the Conquest. There are two other teams based in the
city: Kasımpaşa SK and İstanbul Büyükşehır Belediyespor.
Eighteen teams from all over Turkey compete from August to May. Each season three move up
from the second league into the first and three get demoted. The top team of the first league plays in
the UEFA Cup. Matches are usually held on the weekend, often on a Saturday night. Tickets are sold
at the
stadyum (
stadium) on the day of the match, but most fans purchase them ahead of time through
Biletix (
www.biletix.com
)
. Open seating is affordable; covered seating - which has the best views -
can be very pricey.
Although violence at home games is not unknown, most matches are fine. If you're worried, avoid
the Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe clashes, as the supporters of these arch-rivals occasionally become
overly excited and throw a few punches.
