Yedi Kule | |
Location | Heraklion, Crete, Greece |
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Coordinates | 35°20′17″N 25°06′53″E / 35.33806°N 25.11472°E |
Owner | Amateur OFI |
Operator | OFI Crete |
Capacity | 7,323 |
Surface | Grass |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1949 |
Opened | 1951 |
Renovated | 2004 |
Tenants | |
OFI Crete |
Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium (Greek: Γήπεδο Θεόδωρος Βαρδινογιάννης), commonly referred to by its nickname, Yedi Kule, is a football stadium located in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. It was built in 1951 as the home ground of OFI Crete. The nickname "Yedi Kule" refers to the historical Heptapyrgion fortress (commonly known as "Yedi Kule" in Ottoman Turkish), a Byzantine and Ottoman-era stronghold located in Thessaloniki. This nickname was adopted due to the fortress-like ambiance of the stadium, symbolizing strength and resilience.