One of the largest projects within Greece’s landmark Ellinikon urban regeneration project will open to the public on July 20, offering citizens a new destination for sport, wellness and recreation.
The Ellinikon Sports Park, located at the heart of The Ellinikon development, will provide free access to modern sports facilities, green spaces and high-quality infrastructure designed for professional athletes, amateur sports enthusiasts, families and visitors of all ages.
The project was presented to media representatives ahead of its official opening, marking another major milestone in the transformation of the former Athens airport site into a new urban destination.
With a total area of 287,000 square metres, the Sports Park combines advanced sporting facilities, extensive green areas, sustainable design and smart technologies, according to Dimitris Karastogiannis, Chief Property & Community Management Officer at LAMDA Development.
More than 115,000 square metres of the site consist of open green spaces integrated into The Ellinikon’s wider metropolitan park, encouraging daily exercise, walking, cycling and greater contact with nature.
“The Ellinikon Sports Park is not simply a sports facility. It is part of a wider vision where sport, health, wellbeing and social interaction become part of everyday life,” Karastogiannis said.
Facilities opening in the first phase
The first phase of operation, beginning on July 20, 2026, will include:
- An outdoor athletics track and throwing facilities with 1,070 spectator seats
- Two 11-a-side football pitches with artificial turf
- Two 11-a-side football pitches with hybrid turf
- Two basketball courts
- Two tennis courts
- Open green areas for exercise and recreation
- A sports accommodation building with 124 rooms
Visitors will also have access to pedestrian paths, cycling routes, four food and beverage areas, 1,350 parking spaces, children’s recreation areas and event spaces.
A dedicated super app will allow visitors to make facility and parking reservations.
The Sports Park recently hosted the EKO Acropolis Rally 2026 special stage, attracting 57 teams from 24 countries and more than 10,000 spectators.
A new public space for Athens
LAMDA Development CEO Odysseas Athanasiou described the opening of the first phase as a symbolic milestone for The Ellinikon regeneration project.
“The delivery of the Sports Park’s first phase to the public is an important moment. It is the point where The Ellinikon truly opens to the world, allowing citizens to experience the first tangible elements of the new lifestyle being created in Europe’s largest urban regeneration project,” Athanasiou said.
The Sports Park will initially operate daily from 6 pm to 11 pm until September.
From September, opening hours will expand to 8 am to midnight, operating 362 days a year.
Entry will be free through the Alimos entrance on Aeroporías Street.
Designed for everyone
Karastogiannis said the Sports Park was built around two central principles: sport as a way of life and the creation of an open, accessible space for everyone.
“Over the past decade, sport was mainly associated with competitions and events. Today, in 2026, we view sport differently. It represents health, wellbeing, participation and social connection,” he said.
The facility aims to serve professional athletes, families, children, amateur sports participants and anyone seeking to incorporate exercise into their daily routine.
The majority of the Sports Park will remain open to the public, while a smaller section of facilities will operate through partnerships with specialised operators to ensure high-quality services and efficient management.