Singapore Indoor Stadium to be redeveloped as ‘best-in-class’ venue

The Singapore Government is proposing to demolish the multi-purpose Singapore Indoor Stadium to make way for a new “best-in-class” arena.

Announced in the Singapore Parliament this week by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong during a debate on his Ministry’s budget, the proposed new venue would replace the Singapore Indoor Stadium (SIS) - which has stood for more than three decades - in the Kallang Alive/Singapore Sports Hub precinct.

Minister Tong said the new arena, to be built adjacent to the current SIS site, would be among the “best in class globally” and would have at least the same capacity as the current venue. SIS would remain open until the new arena is built, although no timeline has been announced for the project.

Able to accommodate up to 15,000 fans for music events and 12,000 for sport, the SIS opened in 1989 and it has hosted mixed martial arts, tennis, wrestling, netball, badminton and various other sports over the years, along with concerts from the likes of Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran.

Designed by internationally acclaimed Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, it was built at a cost of S$90 million.

As reported by Singapore’s the Straits Times newspaper, Minister Wong added “the hosting of high-quality international events is valuable, and also highly sought after.

“Our competitors are not standing still and we, likewise, must continue to innovate and evolve if we want to continue to attract top-tier events.

“We believe that it is now an opportune time to develop a new indoor arena that will be among the best in class globally. We have gone around to study some of the best arenas in the world, to learn from them.”

Minister Tong said the new arena would be capable of hosting a wider range of events and provide a better overall experience for guests.

2024 will see the Singapore Sports Hub welcome two new facilities in 2024 - the Kallang Tennis Hub and Football Hub – while new basketball courts and a softball/baseball facility will open at the former Bedok Swimming Complex and in Jurong East.

11 projects have been completed as part of Singapore’s Sports Facilities Master Plan, including the newly opened Bukit Canberra sports hub and the ActiveSG Sport Village @ Jurong Town. Plans are also in place for new sports facilities in Clementi, Toa Payoh and Punggol.

Singapore’s Disability Sports Master Plan is also being updated, with recommendations to be announced later in 2024.

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