The venerable Singapore Indoor Stadium, boasting a history of over three decades, will remain in operation until the completion of the forthcoming state-of-the-art arena.
Singapore has unveiled plans to construct a cutting-edge arena to succeed the 35-year-old Singapore Indoor Stadium. Positioned adjacent to its predecessor, the upcoming venue, yet to be named, aims to be a global leader in its class. Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth, Edwin Tong, shared this vision on Thursday (Mar 7) while presenting the ministry’s spending plans for the year.
Singapore Indoor Stadium to be replaced by New Arena in Kallang
The Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY) highlighted that the current infrastructure of the Indoor Stadium faces limitations in handling the power demands of concerts and sporting events. A recent media briefing emphasized the necessity to invest in additional power or electrical support, requiring both financial and temporal commitments.
In contrast, neighboring countries are actively constructing or enhancing indoor arenas to accommodate more sophisticated events with quicker turnaround times. These venues provide enhanced value propositions for spectators, including diverse hospitality suites.
Addressing this competitive landscape, Mr. Tong stated in parliament, “Our competitors are not standing still, and we, likewise, must continually innovate and evolve if we want to continue to attract top-tier events.” Recognizing the significance of high-quality international events, Singapore has undertaken studies of leading global arenas to draw inspiration and insights for its upcoming facility.
The upcoming indoor arena is poised to contribute to Singapore’s vision for the Kallang Alive precinct, aspiring to be a hub for world-class events and a dedicated space for national athletes. While plans are in their preliminary stages, the Singapore Indoor Stadium will remain operational for the time being.
“This minimizes disruption to the pipeline of events and programming, which can continue throughout the construction period for the new arena,” stated Mr. Tong.
The Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY) is currently exploring future applications for the Indoor Stadium, inaugurated on the final day of 1989 with a construction cost of S$90 million (US$67.1 million). With a seating capacity of up to 12,000, the new arena is envisioned to match or exceed this capacity, according to Mr. Tong.
Over the years, the Indoor Stadium has hosted numerous significant sports and entertainment events, ranging from performances by global stars like Kanye West and Tina Turner to hosting the World Wrestling Entertainment and Women’s Tennis Association Finals. Recent highlights include concerts by Cantopop sensation Jacky Cheung and the renowned K-pop group Shinee in the past year.
