The venue was built for the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

It is situated next to the larger Sinan Erdem Dome which host's basketball among other sports.

[1][2] As part of Istanbul bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics, it was the planned venue for the judo and taekwondo events.

[1] Ataköy Athletics Arena has a 200 m (660 ft) oval track with six lanes, a 60 m (200 ft) straight track with eight lanes for track events, and shot put, high jump, pole vault, long/triple jump sectors for field events.

[1] Media related to Ataköy Athletics Arena at Wikimedia Commons