Singapore Sports Hub

{{Infobox venue

|stadium_name = Singapore Sports Hub
新加坡体育城
Hab Sukan Singapura
சிங்கப்பூர் விளையாட்டு மையம்

|nickname =

|image = Singapore_Sports_Hub.jpg

|caption = The National Stadium from the Sports Hub Boardwalk

|location = Kallang, Singapore

|broke_ground = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2010|9|29}}

|opened = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2014|6|30}} (Soft Opening)
{{Start date and age|df=yes|2015|7|26}} (Official Opening)

|operator = Kallang Alive Sport Management Co Pte Ltd

|construction_cost = S$1.3 billion est.

|architect = Arup Architecture (National Stadium and Sports Venues), DP Architects (Non-Sport Venues, QP), AECOM (landscape)

|publictransit = {{SMRT code|CC|6}} Stadium

|seating_capacity = National Stadium: 55,000
Singapore Indoor Stadium: 12,000
OCBC Aquatic Centre: 6,000
OCBC Arena: 3,000

}}

The Singapore Sports Hub ({{zh|c=新加坡体育城}}; Malay: Hab Sukan Singapura; Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர் விளையாட்டு மையம்) is a sports and recreation district in Kallang, Singapore. The Sports Hub is a 35-hectare public-private partnership that is anchored by the new National Stadium and existing Singapore Indoor Stadium, and also incorporates a new aquatics facility, indoor sports hall, water sports centre, public sports facilities, and retail.

The Sports Hub opened to the public on 30 June 2014, and is currently connected to the Stadium, Tanjong Rhu and Kallang MRT stations.

History

The Sports Hub project was proposed on the recommendation of then Community Development and Sports Minister Abdullah Tarmugi in Parliament in 2001.{{Cite web|title=Newspaper Article – State-of-the-art sports hub in the offing, says Mr Abdullah|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20010315-2.2.33.4.aspx?q=%2522Sports+Hub%2522+%2522Singapore%2522&mode=advanced&df=19960101&dt=20031231&ct=article&t=newpaper%252ctoday&page=1&sort=relevance&token=singapore%252chub%252csports&sessionid=a173d6bbf4e44bfb946151373334838f|access-date=2016-08-24|website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg}} His proposal was based on a report by the Committee of Sporting Singapore calling for the city-state to promote a culture of sports, and replace the aging National Stadium.{{Cite web|date=July 2001|title=Report of the Committee of Sporting Singapore|url=https://www.mccy.gov.sg/en/Topics/Sports/Articles/~/media/1E003B9BD39341B2B658916962DD7F4F.ashx|publisher=Ministry of Community Development and Sports, Singapore}}

The Sports Hub was to include the new stadium, new aquatic centre, indoor arena, and recreation facilities. Alpine Mayreder, Singapore Gold Consortium, and the Singapore Sports Hub Consortium (SSHC) submitted bids for the project, which included the new National Stadium and its surrounding facilities, in February 2007.{{cite news|last=Cheney|first=Satish|date=28 March 2007|title=All 3 proposals for the new Sports Hub are 'truly spectacular': Vivian Balakrishnan|work=Channel NewsAsia|publisher=Mediacorp|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/267019/1/.html|access-date=2021-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816204925/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/267019/1/.html|archive-date=2007-08-16}}{{Cite web|title=Sports Hub proposals promise to add buzz to Kallang|url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20071106-34622.html|access-date=2021-11-25|website=asiaone.com}} On 19 January 2008, the Singapore government awarded the development of the Sports Hub project to SSHC, led by Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd.{{cite news|date=19 January 2008|title='Cool Dome' design wins Singapore Sports Hub project|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/323568/1/.html}} Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan stated that their bid "displayed significant strengths in programming, team culture and partnership, functionality and layout".{{cite news|date=19 January 2008|title=Singapore Sports Hub Consortium, Led By Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd, Selected as Preferred Bidder For Sports Hub Project|publisher=Singapore Sports Council|url=http://www.ssc.gov.sg/publish/Corporate/en/news/media_releases/2008/singapore_sports_hub.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123133127/http://www.ssc.gov.sg/publish/Corporate/en/news/media_releases/2008/singapore_sports_hub.html|archive-date=23 January 2008}}

The Sports Hub was a public-private partnership with SportsHub Pte Ltd,{{Cite web |title=SportSG CEO Lim Teck Yin to hand over reins to MCI deputy secretary Alan Goh |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/sportsg-ceo-lim-teck-yin-hand-over-mci-deputy-secretary-alan-goh-064209783.html |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=sg.news.yahoo.com |language=en-SG}} which is made up of four companies namely InfraRed Capital Partners, Dragages Singapore, DTZ Facilities and Engineering and Global Spectrum Asia.{{Cite web |title=Sports Hub takeover: A timeline of events leading up to the Govt's move |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/timeline-sports-hub-takeover-sportsg-1922071 |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=TODAY |language=en}}

SHPL was engaged in 2008 and has a 25-year contract to design, build, finance and operate the Sports Hub.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2022-06-10 |title=SportSG to take over ownership and management of Sports Hub from private consortium on Dec 9 {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/sportsg-to-take-over-ownership-and-management-of-sports-hub-from-private-consortium-on-dec-9 |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}

The demolition of the former National Stadium was slated to begin in 2008 while the construction of the new Sports Hub was originally planned for completion in 2011. Due to the 2008 financial crisis and high construction costs, the project was delayed. In 2008, barring any major problems, it was projected that the project would be completed in time for the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.{{cite news|date=17 June 2008|title=Sports Hub may now be ready only by 2012|work=The Straits Times|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_248603.html}} However, after delays were announced in 2009, Singapore withdrew from hosting the Games.{{cite news|date=30 September 2009|title=S'pore may not host 2013 SEA Games due to Sports Hub delay|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1008335/1/.html}} In August 2010, it was reported that the contract to begin construction had been signed with plans for the demolition works of the former National Stadium to start in October 2010 and for the completion of the new Sports Hub in April 2014. The demolition of the National Stadium started with a groundbreaking ceremony on 29 September 2010.{{cite news|date=29 September 2010|title=Finally, groundbreaking ceremony for Sports Hub|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1084083/1/.html}}

The contract with SHPL started from 2010 due to the delay and it was to last for 25 years till 2035.

Naming rights to some of the Sports Hub's facilities were sold to various partners, with OCBC Bank sponsoring its indoor arena and aquatic centre, and 100plus sponsoring an {{Convert|888|m|yd|abbr=on}} promenade around the new National Stadium.{{Cite web|title=Every corner available for sponsors: Oon|url=https://www.todayonline.com/sports/every-corner-available-sponsors-oon|access-date=2021-11-25|website=TODAYonline}}

The Sports Hub's facilities were officially opened to the public on 30 June 2014,{{Cite news|title=Free access for a month|work=TODAYonline|url=http://www.todayonline.com/sports/free-access-month|access-date=2018-06-11}} and began to host events over the year that followed, including the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officially inaugurated the facility on 26 July 2015 during the Youth Day event Youth Celebrate! at the National Stadium.{{Cite news|last=hermesauto|date=2015-07-26|title=PM marks Youth Day, opens Sports Hub in front of 50,000 crowd|language=en|work=The Straits Times|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/pm-marks-youth-day-opens-sports-hub-in-front-of-50000-crowd|access-date=2018-06-11}}

On 10 June 2022, it was announced that Sport Singapore, a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth, would take over management and ownership of the Sports Hub from 9 December 2022 onwards, with plans to make it more accessible to the broader community in Singapore.{{Cite web |title=SportSG will take over ownership of Singapore Sports Hub to make it more accessible to the community |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-sports-hub-sportsg-take-over-ownership-community-access-kallang-2739186 |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=CNA |language=en}}

On 18 August 2024, it is announced that a new indoor arena will be built which will have a capacity of 18,000, higher than the Singapore Indoor Stadium which can hold up to 12,000 spectators. {{Cite news |date=2024-08-19 |title=New 18,000-capacity indoor arena at Kallang fills a gap among Singapore’s sporting venues |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/new-18000-capacity-indoor-arena-at-kallang-fills-a-gap-among-singapore-s-sporting-venues |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}

Facilities

File:Singapore National Stadium from Kallang Footbridge.jpg

The 35-hectare Singapore Sports Hub includes the following sports facilities:

A 55,000-capacity National Stadium with a retractable roof and movable tiered seating
Singapore Indoor Stadium, an existing 12,000-seat indoor arena
OCBC Aquatic Centre, which features two Olympic-size swimming pools for training and competition, and a diving facility. It has hosted FINA events, and is the headquarters of the Singapore Swimming Association.{{Cite web|date=2019-11-21|title=FINA Diving Grand Prix series to reach conclusion in Singapore|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1087269/fina-diving-grand-prix-in-singapore|access-date=2021-11-25|website=insidethegames.biz}}{{Cite web|last=Yap|first=Clement|date=2014-06-20|title=Sports Hub pool free to public for a month|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/others/sports-hub-pool-free-public-month|access-date=2021-11-25|website=The New Paper|language=en}} It has 3,000 permanent seats, but can also be expanded to 6,000 seats if needed.{{Cite news|last=Chen|first=May|date=2014-05-19|title=OCBC Aquatic Centre completes construction; National Stadium and OCBC Arena to follow|language=en|work=The Straits Times|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/ocbc-aquatic-centre-completes-construction-national-stadium-and-ocbc-arena-to-follow|access-date=2021-11-25|issn=0585-3923}}{{Cite web|date=2014-08-05|title=Singapore’s mammoth new Sports Hub reaches completion|url=https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/singapores-mammoth-new-sports-hub-reaches-completion|access-date=2021-11-25|website=Wallpaper Magazine}}
OCBC Arena, an indoor sports facility.
The Water Sports Centre, a kayaking and canoeing facility along the Kallang Basin.{{Cite news|last=Said|first=Nabilah|date=2015-03-20|title=The new Sports Hub: 10 things to do in Kallang|language=en|work=The Straits Times|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/the-new-sports-hub-10-things-to-do-in-kallang|access-date=2021-11-25|issn=0585-3923}}
Various community facilities, including basketball, netball, and volleyball courts, as well as running and cycling paths,

It also includes the Singapore Sports Museum,{{Cite web|title=Sports pioneers honoured with opening of S’pore Sports and Youth Olympic Museum|url=https://www.todayonline.com/sports/sports-pioneers-honoured-opening-spore-sports-and-youth-olympic-museum|access-date=2021-11-25|website=TODAYonline}} the Sports Hub Library, Shimano Cycling World (a cycling museum operated by bike manufacturer Shimano),{{Cite web|date=2019-01-11|title=The Experience Economy Boom|url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/feature/the-experience-economy-boom|access-date=2021-11-25|website=The Business Times}} and Kallang Wave Mall (a shopping centre attached to the National Stadium featuring stores, restaurants, a {{Convert|16|m|ft|abbr=on}} climbing wall, and a children's water park on its roof).{{Cite news|last=Tan|first=Christopher|date=2014-05-14|title=Mall at Singapore Sports Hub to be named Kallang Wave|language=en|work=The Straits Times|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mall-at-singapore-sports-hub-to-be-named-kallang-wave|access-date=2021-11-25|issn=0585-3923}}