The highs and lows of the Sports Hub
Lee U-Wen
The Sports Hub - Singapore’s largest public-private-partnership project - will be owned and managed by government agency Sport Singapore from Dec 9 this year. The S$1.33 billion facility in Kallang, which became operational in 2014, has experienced its fair share of highs and lows since. Here is a snapshot of what’s made the headlines over the years.
Jan 2008 - Singapore Sports Hub Consortium awarded the tender to build the Sports Hub
Aug 2010 - Consortium signs contract with the then-Singapore Sports Council (now Sport Singapore) to design, build, finance and manage the facility
Sep 2010 - Old National Stadium demolished; Groundbreaking ceremony for construction of new stadium is held
Nov 2013 - OCBC named Premier Founding Partner in a 15-year sponsorship deal worth over S$50 million
June 2014 - The first events take place, including the Southeast Asian Swimming Championships, World University Floorball Championship and the World Club 10s rugby tournament
July 2014 - The poor quality and suitability of the National Stadium pitch attracts international attention. It would take several years before the issue is resolved
Aug 2014 - The National Stadium hosts its first football match, with Italian giants Juventus defeating a Singapore Selection 5-0
Oct 2014 - Brazil beats Japan 4-0 at the National Stadium in an international friendly, with Neymar scoring all the goals in front of 51,577 spectators
Oct 2014 - A WTA Finals tennis match at the Indoor Stadium was paused due to a water leak from the roof. Singapore hosted the season-ending WTA Finals for 5 years from 2014 to 2018
Dec 2014 - A leaking roof at the National Stadium resulted in a backlash from fans attending the Jay Chou concert. There were also numerous complaints about the poor quality of the stadium’s sound system
Dec 2014 - Sports Hub announces it will replace the National Stadium pitch with a “lay and play” solution, and bear the full cost
May 2015 - The new “lay and play” turf is laid on the National Stadium, winning praise for its smooth surface
June 2015 - Singapore hosts the SEA Games, with the National Stadium the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, and many key events.
July 2015 - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officially declares the Sports Hub open.
Dec 2015 - The Sports Hub’s first CEO Philippe Collin-Delavaud departs after being at the helm since 2011
Dec 2015 - Sports Hub Pte Ltd (SHPL) places S$26 million price tag on 35 extra rehearsal days for the 2016 National Day Parade (NDP), though this was reportedly lowered to S$10 million. The total cost of staging the parade reached S$39.4 million - nearly twice what it would cost to host it at the Marina Bay Floating Platform
Aug 2016 - The only NDP to be held at the National Stadium to date. The event was marred when the fixed-roof scupper lights failed to display the national flag during the parade.
Sep 2016 - Another Jay Chou concert experiences issues with the National Stadium’s sound system, leading to some 1,500 fans to ask for a refund
Dec 2016 - The Straits Times reports that several National Stadium suite owners are unlikely to renew their contracts after enduring a threadbare events calendar in 2016
Apr 2017 - British band Coldplay performs 2 sold-out concerts at the National Stadium
May 2017 - Sports Hub’s second CEO Manu Sawhney quits, after an anonymous letter of complaint was sent to one of the equity partners in SHPL.
June 2017 - Argentina defeats Singapore 6-0 in an exhibition match to mark the 125th-year anniversary of the Football Association of Singapore.
June 2018 - Sports Hub and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announce strategic partnership with the Ultimate Fighting Championship for its first multi-year live event deal in Asia-Pacific.
Jan 2019 - Sports Hub’s third CEO Oon Jin Teik announces resignation, with talk at the time suggesting there was a disagreement between him and SHPL on the direction of the Sports Hub.
April 2019 - SHPL chairman Bryn Jones becomes Acting CEO, staying in this role for 10 months
Dec 2019 - U2 performs 2 sold-out shows at the National Stadium
Feb 2020 - Former STB chief Lionel Yeo officially takes over as the Sports Hub’s CEO, a role he holds to date.
April 2020 - Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, migrant workers moved in to the National Stadium and other facilities at the Sports Hub, where they stayed for 138 days in total.
Oct 2020 - One Championship holds the first sports event to welcome back spectators since the start of the pandemic, with 250 fans in attendance at the Indoor Stadium
Dec 2021 - The National Stadium is one of two venues for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 football tournament.
Jun 10, 2022 - Sport Singapore announces it will take over the ownership and management of the Sports Hub from Dec 9.
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